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New Study Shows Common Kitchen Worktop Material Can Lead to Irreversible Lung Disease

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Doctors are calling for a ban on artificial stone, a popular material used for kitchen worktops, following the confirmation of eight cases of artificial stone silicosis in the UK for the first time.

Also known as engineered or reconstituted stone, artificial stone has gained popularity for its aesthetics and durability over the last two decades. However, a new report published in the British Journal of Construction highlights the serious health risks posed by its high silica content, which exceeds 90% compared to 3% in marble and 30% in granite.

“Silicosis is a progressive lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust,” said Dr. Patrick Howlett, a spokesperson for BBC Science Focus. “The risk of developing silicosis is significantly higher for workers in the artificial stone industry compared to those with chronic respiratory conditions.”

“Various industries expose individuals to silicosis, including mining, pottery, cement work, and now artificial stone fabrication. Prolonged exposure to low levels of silica dust can lead to the development of silicosis over time,” added Dr. Howlett.

All eight affected individuals were male, with an average age of 34, and most worked for small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Poor safety practices, such as inadequate respiratory protection and ventilation systems, were reported by workers during cutting and grinding operations.

The report’s authors emphasized the need for national guidelines and better enforcement to protect workers from artificial stone silicosis. They highlighted the urgent need for early detection of cases and preventative measures to avoid a potential epidemic.

Since 2010, cases of artificial stone silicosis have been reported worldwide, but the UK confirmed its first cases in mid-2023. California has identified nearly 100 cases of silicosis among countertop workers, prompting the adoption of new regulations to safeguard workers.

Australia has already banned the use of artificial stone as of July 2024, aiming to eliminate the health risks associated with its production and installation.

In related editorials, Dr. Christopher Barber and researchers from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust drew parallels between artificial stone silicosis and historical occupational health crises, urging stricter regulations and enforcement to protect workers.

Experts are currently reviewing exposure limits for crystalline silica dust in the UK, with a focus on mitigating the risks associated with artificial stone worktops. Silicosis remains a significant concern for clinicians and researchers in the occupational health field.

About our experts

Patrick Howlett: An MRC Clinical Research Fellow at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, focusing on silicosis and tuberculosis among small-scale miners in Tanzania.

Christopher Barber: A leading expert in occupational and environmental lung disease, serving as a medical advisor to the UK Health and Safety Executive and conducting extensive research in the field.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

How AI’s Struggle with Human-Like Behavior Could Lead to Failure | Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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IIn 2021, linguist Emily Bender and computer scientist Timnit Gebru Published a paper. The paper described language models, which were still in their infancy at the time, as a type of “probabilistic parrot.” A language model, they wrote, “is a system that haphazardly stitches together sequences of linguistic forms observed in large amounts of training data, based on probability information about how they combine, without any regard for meaning.”

The phrase stuck: AI can get better, even if it’s a probabilistic parrot; the more training data it has, the better it looks. But does something like ChatGPT actually exhibit anything resembling intelligence, reasoning, or thought? Or is it simply “haphazardly stringing together sequences of linguistic forms” as it scales?

In the AI world, such criticisms are often brushed aside. When I spoke to Sam Altman last year, he seemed almost surprised to hear such an outdated criticism. “Is that still a widely held view? I mean, it’s taken into consideration. Are there still a lot of people who take it seriously like that?” he asked.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Photo: Jason Redmond/AFP/Getty Images

“My understanding is that after GPT-4, most people stopped saying that and started saying, ‘OK, it works, but it’s too dangerous,'” he said, adding that GPT-4 did reason “to a certain extent.”

At times, this debate feels semantic: what does it matter whether an AI system is reasoning or simply parroting what we say, if it can tackle problems that were previously beyond the scope of computing? Of course, if we’re trying to create an autonomous moral agent, a general intelligence that can succeed humanity as the protagonist of the universe, we might want that agent to be able to think. But if we’re simply building a useful tool, even one that might well serve as a new general-purpose technology, does the distinction matter?

Tokens, not facts

In the end, that was the case. Lukas Berglund et al. Last year I wrote:

If a human knows the fact that “Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman in space,” then they can also correctly answer the question “Who was the first woman in space?” This seems trivial, since it’s a very basic form of generalization. However, autoregressive language models show that we cannot generalize in this way.

This is an example of an ordering effect that we call “the curse of inversions.”

Researchers have repeatedly found that they can “teach” large language models lots of false facts and then completely fail the basic task of inferring the opposite.But the problem doesn’t just exist in toy models or artificial situations.

When GPT-4 was tested on 1,000 celebrities and their parents with pairs of questions like “Who is Tom Cruise’s mother?” and “Who is Mary Lee Pfeiffer’s son?”, the model was able to answer the first question (” The first one was answered correctly, but the second was not, presumably because the pre-training data contained few examples of the parent coming before the celebrity (e.g., “Mary Lee Pfeiffer’s son is Tom Cruise”).

One way to explain this is that in a Master’s of Law you don’t learn the relationships between facts. tokena linguistic formalism explained by Bender. The token “Tom Cruise’s mother” is linked to the token “Mary Lee Pfeiffer”, but the reverse is not necessarily true. The model is not inferring, it is playing wordplay, and the fact that the words “Mary Lee Pfeiffer’s son” do not appear in the training data means that the model is useless.

But another way of explaining it is to understand that humans are similarly asymmetrical. inference It’s symmetrical. If you know that they are mother and son, you can discuss the relationship in both directions. However, Recall Not really. Remembering a fun fact about a celebrity is a lot easier than being given a barely recognizable snippet of information, without any context, and being asked to state precisely why you know it.

An extreme example makes this clear: Contrast being asked to list all 50 US states with being shown a list of the 50 states and asked to name the countries to which they belong. As a matter of reasoning, the facts are symmetric; as a matter of memory, the same is not true at all.

But sir, this man is my son.

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Cabbage. Not pictured are the man, the goat, and the boat. Photo: Chokchai Silarg/Getty Images

Source: www.theguardian.com

New research reveals presence of lead and arsenic in tampons, but experts advise against panic.

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Tampons are one of the most popular period products in a growing market that also includes period underwear and menstrual cups. They’ve been around since the 1930s and are still a mainstay for many people today, used by up to 80% of people who menstruate.

But few studies have looked at the potential contaminants in tampons and whether they pose a health risk, and a new study, the first of its kind, is leaving many questioning the truth. Are tampons safe?

A recent study from the University of California, Berkeley found that many commercially available tampons, both organic and non-organic, may contain toxic metals such as lead and arsenic. Researchers looked at tampons sold in the United States and Europe.

“Some tampons had higher concentrations of some metals and lower concentrations of others,” said lead author Jenni A. Shearston, PhD. “None of the tampons we tested appeared to have low concentrations of all metals.”

Searston said she and her colleagues began researching tampons after noticing little information about their ingredients in the research literature.

“There has historically been a taboo around menstruation,” she says, “and that not only impacts our social lives, but it also impacts scientific research, which I think is one of the reasons why there isn’t much research on menstrual products.”

Dr. Mitchell Kramer, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Huntington Hospital Northwell Health, said the study is “groundbreaking” and shows tampon manufacturers need to do more testing of their products.

“It certainly needs further evaluation. … I think this could have a big impact going forward in terms of how tampons are made and the impact on users,” Kramer said.

However, it is unclear what health effects using tampons that contain these metals may have.

“It’s unclear whether these metals are absorbed through the vagina, which is a key exposure,” said Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, an obstetrician-gynecologist and author of Let’s Talk about Down There: An OB-GYN Answers All of your Burning Questions … Without Making You Feel Embarrassed for Asking.

Shearston, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health and School of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, added that one of the limitations of the study is that it’s not known whether metals even leach from tampons.

“We only tested the tampons to see if they had these metals in them,” she said. “We don’t know if they’ll come out.”

Here’s what you need to know about the study:

Tampons and toxic metals

The paper states:Environment InternationalIn a new study titled “Tampons: A Guide to the Effects of Metals on Men’s Health,” researchers looked at 30 different tampons from 14 different brands and measured the levels of metals in them. Every tampon tested had measurable levels of all 16 metals they tested, including toxic metals like lead and arsenic.

But the study doesn’t conclude that the tampons tested, or others on the market, are unsafe, and Searston hopes people don’t “panic” about the study.

“We need more information,” she said. “What I would encourage people to do is support more research, ask more questions about this, and try to prioritize research on menstrual products and periods.”

The metal content varies depending on the type, where you buy it, and whether it’s generic or brand name.

“These metals were found in varying amounts, with some more prevalent in organic tampons (such as arsenic) and others more prevalent in traditional tampons (such as lead),” Lincoln said. “The study was blinded, so we don’t know which brands were tested, which I know is frustrating.”

Lincoln, who was not involved in the study, said he’s a bit surprised that this is the first of its kind, but that the findings make sense.

“It’s not surprising that metals were found in organic tampons because they can be absorbed from the soil and pesticides are still used in organic farming,” she said.

Are tampons safe?

Yes, tampons are still safe to use, experts say.

“There’s no need to panic,” Kramer said. “It hasn’t been proven that these products are dangerous or that they’re causing serious illness in people. I don’t think so. I think the concentrations of these heavy metals are very low.”

Research news release “It’s unclear whether the metals detected in this study contribute to any adverse health effects,” she said. Shearston said she and her colleagues are currently investigating “whether metals can migrate out of tampons.”

“We do leaching experiments,” she said, “and we also test the same products, like tampons, for other chemicals.”

Lincoln also stressed that it was too early to say what the study’s findings might mean for consumers looking for the safest tampons.

“This study shows that the average amount of lead found in tampons is actually very low, much lower than the amounts of concern in food and water,” she said. “This doesn’t negate the findings, but it’s an important consideration when people are deciding whether to continue using tampons.”

Katherine Roberts, deputy health editor at Consumer Reports, Covered Organic Tamponspoints out that the study highlights the need for more research on tampons.

“This isn’t a lesson that’s immediately actionable for individual consumers,” Roberts said. “The big lesson from this is that we need to do more research. In particular, studying how using tampons that are contaminated with heavy metals affects physiology would be very helpful.”

Are non-toxic, organic tampons safer?

All of the tampons tested contained some level of the toxic metal, even those that were claimed to be non-toxic and organic. In fact, these tampons contained more arsenic than traditional tampons.

“I hope this study shows people that organic doesn’t necessarily mean better, especially when it comes to menstrual products,” Lincoln says.

For example, an organic label on a tampon doesn’t mean as much as it does on food.

“Tampons labeled as organic don’t have a whole lot of information on them,” Roberts says. “It can mean a variety of different things.”

Lincoln added that people should choose menstrual products based on what’s best for them.

“This study shouldn’t be a reason for us all to immediately throw away tampons, but it’s important for people to decide what feels right for them,” she said. “It’s important to recognise that which period product to use is a personal choice – not everyone feels comfortable in pads, cups or period underwear, and for those people, tampons are their go-to.”

Using tampons safely

For tampon users who are concerned about metal exposure, Kramer recommends using tampons less frequently and relying on other menstrual products.

“You might want to alternate between tampons and sanitary napkins during your period, rather than leaving a tampon in 24 hours a day,” she says. “There are a few things you can try to reduce some of your exposure.”

There are other things consumers should consider when choosing a tampon to avoid unknown ingredients.

“Unfortunately, buying a particular brand or looking at a particular label doesn’t necessarily translate to avoiding (heavy metals),” Roberts said.

Roberts says you can buy unscented tampons, choose tampons with fewer ingredients, and avoid tampons made with plastic materials like polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene.

“Flavours are a big black box, regulatory-wise,” Roberts says. “You can add flavours, but you don’t have to disclose what’s in them.”

Still, Cramer hopes people don’t panic about the findings.

“Tampons have been around for ages. I’ve never seen anyone come in with heavy metal poisoning. That’s completely different from the toxic shock syndrome issue,” he says. “That was a bacteria that had nothing to do with heavy metals.”

Alternatives to tampons

If you want to try other types of menstrual products, consider these Alternatives to tampons:

Menstrual cup

One popular brand is the DivaCup, a cup that is inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual fluid.

Menstrual disc

These products use a rimmed bag, similar to a cup, to collect menstrual fluid.

Period underwear

These are similar to regular underwear but contain additional material to absorb menstrual fluid.

Reusable Pads

These are cloth pads that you place inside your underwear to absorb liquids, but unlike regular disposable pads, they can also be washed and reused.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Will other US companies follow Starbucks’ lead in making major progress in union negotiations?

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Starbucks has been actively resisting unionization efforts for over two years, but now they seem willing to engage in negotiations.

In a surprising move, Starbucks and its union released a joint announcement at the end of February, expressing a willingness to make progress on organizing and collective bargaining.

The union representing Starbucks employees announced plans to resume direct negotiations with the company in late April to establish a basic framework agreement involving over 400 unionized stores.

This development has brought hope not only to Starbucks employees but also to workers at companies like Amazon, Trader Joe’s, and REI, who have been struggling to move contract negotiations forward.

The possibility of Starbucks potentially unionizing after years of aggressive anti-union tactics has sparked curiosity about which company may follow suit in the future.

Claire Chan, an REI employee, expressed excitement about the progress, highlighting the persistence required to bring a company like Starbucks to the negotiating table. She described it as a significant step forward.

John Logan, a labor studies professor, remains cautious about Starbucks’ intentions and whether they will truly commit to ending anti-union practices and reaching an initial contract.

The union representative for Starbucks, Michelle Eisen, remains optimistic about the future collaboration between Starbucks and the union, emphasizing the importance of valuing employee input for business success.

Starbucks has offered a settlement to the union following backlash over union-busting allegations, stock price declines, and disruptive strikes, showing a potential shift towards supporting unions.

Legal experts and union representatives see Starbucks’ possible unionization as a significant step that could inspire other companies to consider similar actions.

Overall, the announcement from Starbucks has far-reaching implications for workers’ rights and the future of unionization in major corporations.

Source: www.theguardian.com

New findings suggest that smoking may lead to an increase in unseen belly fat

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When picturing a smoker, the image of a slender and stylish individual like Audrey Hepburn may come to mind. However, recent research indicates that even slim smokers could be harboring unhealthy fat hidden deep within their abdomens.

Despite the common belief that smoking can suppress appetite and the fear of weight gain upon quitting, a new study reveals that smokers are more likely to be underweight. Not only that but smokers also tend to accumulate more harmful deep abdominal fat, known as “visceral fat,” which is linked to increased risks of heart attack, diabetes, and dementia. This type of fat can be challenging to detect, leading to a false sense of fullness even with a flat stomach.

To investigate the relationship between lifelong smoking and belly fat, researchers at the University of Copenhagen utilized a statistical analysis tool called Mendelian randomization. This tool categorizes individuals based on their genetic information to identify causal connections between exposures like smoking and outcomes such as abdominal fat distribution.

The study involved analyzing genetic data from numerous studies on smoking habits and body fat distribution among individuals of European ancestry. By identifying specific genes associated with smoking behaviors and body fat distribution, the researchers were able to determine the impact of smoking on belly fat independent of other influencing factors like alcohol consumption and socio-economic background.

The lead author, Dr. Germán D. Carrasquilla, emphasized the importance of large-scale efforts to prevent and reduce smoking in light of their findings published in the journal Dependence. He believes that reducing smoking prevalence can indirectly decrease the prevalence of abdominal fat and ultimately improve public health outcomes.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Microsoft Appoints DeepMind Co-founder to Lead Newly Formed AI Division

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Microsoft has named the co-founder of the British artificial intelligence research institute DeepMind as the head of its new AI division. Mustafa Suleiman, now 39 years old, co-founded DeepMind with Demis Hassabis and Shane Legg back in 2010. The company was later acquired by Google in 2014 for £400m and has since become the core of Google’s AI efforts. Suleiman left DeepMind in 2019 and will now lead Microsoft AI, a new organization focusing on the US company’s consumer products and research. Several members from Suleiman’s Inflection AI startup will also join the division.

Microsoft has made a multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI, the developer of the ChatGPT chatbot, to develop generative AI technology. Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, praised Suleiman as a visionary product maker and a team leader with a bold mission. The new division will integrate Microsoft’s consumer AI efforts, such as the Copilot chatbot and the Bing browser, which utilizes ChatGPT technology. Copilot is a key element in Microsoft’s AI monetization efforts, enabling users to easily compose emails, summarize documents, create presentations, and more.

Suleiman’s colleague Karen Simonyan, also a co-founder of Inflection AI, will join the new division as a principal investigator. Meanwhile, Bloomberg News reported that Apple is in talks to incorporate Google’s Gemini AI product into the iPhone. Inflection AI, backed by Microsoft and Nvidia, has become one of the leading companies in the generative AI race.

Suleiman, who has roots in both Syria and the UK, recently published a book on AI titled “The Coming Wave.” In it, he discusses both the potential benefits and risks of AI technology, calling for an increase in research on AI safety. In an interview last year, he described the book as a “provocation,” noting the importance of predicting future trends and taking action to mitigate potential risks.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sydney Researchers Lead the Way in Brain Chip Technology Ahead of Elon Musk’s Neuralink Neuroscience

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BLaine computer interface technology is at the heart of movies like Ready Player One, The Matrix, and Avatar. But outside of the world of science fiction, BCIs are used on Earth to help paralyzed people communicate, to study dreams, and to control robots.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk announced in January that his neurotechnology company Neuralink had implanted the first computer chip in a human. In February, he announced that patients can now control a computer mouse with their thoughts.

Neuralink’s purpose is noble. It is about helping people who are unable to communicate or interact with their environment. But details are scant. The project quickly raised alarms about brain privacy, the risk of hacking, and other potential issues.



Dr Steve Kassem, senior research scientist at Neuroscience Research Australia, said the Neuralink news should be taken with a “large pinch of salt”. It’s not the first company to do neural implants, he says. In fact, Australia is a ‘hotspot’ for relevant neurological research.

Does the patient dream of electric sheep?

The University of Technology Sydney project, which has received millions of dollars in funding from the Department of Defense, is now in its third phase to demonstrate how soldiers can use brain signals to control robotic dogs.

“We succeeded [demonstrating] Handa can use his brain to issue commands that direct the dog to reach its destination completely hands-free…so the dog can use its hands for other purposes. ” he says.

Soldiers use assisted reality glasses with special graphene interfaces to issue brain signal commands to send the robot dog to different locations. Lin said he is working on making the technology multi-user, faster and able to control other vehicles such as drones.

Meanwhile, Sydney company Neurode has developed a headset to help people with ADHD by monitoring the brain and sending electronic pulses to help them cope with changes. Another his UTS team is working on it. dream machine, which aims to reconstruct dreams from brain signals. It uses artificial intelligence and brainwave data to generate images from your subconscious mind.

And then there are the implants.

good signal

Synchron started at the University of Melbourne and is now based in New York. it is, Mesh inserted into blood vessels in the brain This allows patients to use the Internet by transmitting signals that operate similar to Bluetooth. People can shop, send emails, and communicate online using technology that controls computers.



Synchron has implanted and monitored mesh in many patients, including one in Australia. Patient P4, who has motor neuron disease, had mesh implanted several years ago.

“I think he’s had over 200 sessions,” says Gil Lind, Sychron’s senior director of advanced technology. “He is still progressing well with his implant treatment and is working very closely with us.

“He was able to use the computer through the system…As the disease progressed, it became very difficult to use the physical buttons.

“This allows for online banking, communication with caregivers, [with] Someone I love. ”

Dr Christina Maher from the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Center said Synchron’s technology is “miles ahead” of Elon Musk’s, and is more sophisticated and safer as it does not require open brain surgery. Stated. The researchers have also published more than 25 papers, she said.

“As for Neuralink, we don’t know much about it.

“My understanding is that the top priority for them is to test the effectiveness and safety of surgical robots…so they are focusing more on the robotic side of things, and this is a commercial It makes sense from a perspective.”

Need for regulation

But amidst the hype and promise of neurotechnology, there are concerns about who will have access to the beneficial technologies and how they will be protected.

Maher says it’s important to balance the need for innovation with appropriate regulation while allowing access to those who really need it. She says the “gap between the haves and have-nots” is being discussed not just in Australia but around the world.

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“As brain-computer interfaces become more common, people will be divided into those who can afford them and those who cannot,” she says.

Lind said Synchron is focused on those who have the most to gain, such as quadriplegic patients. “We want to expand it as much as possible. We hope to reach a bigger market and help more people in need,” he says.

A personal and pivotal moment for him, he says, was seeing the faces of the clinicians, team, and family of the first patient who received a successful implant.

At Neuralink, Kasem warns that there are always risks when technology is developed by a company that exists to make a profit. “A cell phone plan for the brain is not what we want,” he says.

“And what if this gets hacked? There’s always a risk when it’s not a closed system.”

But it’s more likely that Neuralink will use people’s data.

“Like every app on your phone or computer, Neuralink monitors everything it can. Everything it can,” Kasem says.

“It will be stored somewhere.”

Protect your brain data

Maher agrees that data is a big issue, saying the risk of hacking remains when devices are connected to the internet. She says much of the social media, biometrics, and other data is already out there, but her brain’s data is different.

“meanwhile [BCI companies] They are subject to the same data privacy laws…The difference in many people’s minds is that brain data is very private and it’s your personal thoughts.

“The big picture here is that once you start recording large amounts of brain data, there are absolutely megatons of data out there,” she says.

Despite privacy concerns, Kasem says interacting with the brain has exciting potential.

“We need to remember how powerful and important the brain is. All you are, all you have been, and all you will ever be is your brain and nothing else.” he says.

Quoting American physicist Emerson Pugh, he says the brain has trillions of neural connections that lead to “infinite opportunities.” hand. ”

Source: www.theguardian.com

2024 BAFTA Game Awards: Baldur’s Gate, Spider-Man, Alan Wake lead major nominations

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The British Academy has announced the nominations for the 20th BAFTA Game Awards, to be held in London on April 11th.

Topping this year’s list is Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3, which earned 10 nominations. Spider-Man 2 has 9 nominations. Alan Wake 2 has 8 nominations. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Star Wars Jedi Survivor each have six nominations. Hi-Fi Rush, a colorful music-based action game from Japan’s Tango Gameworks, earned five nominations, as did Mintrocket’s blockbuster Dave the Diver.

Since 1998, Bafta has celebrated the creative achievements of video games alongside those of the film and television industries. Formerly known as the Bafta Interactive Entertainment Awards, the Bafta Games Awards were launched as a separate event in 2004. The awards are decided by a combination of Bafta’s professional members and selected expert judges, with the EE Player’s Choice award determined by public vote.

At last year’s awards, retro-style indie monster shooter Vampire Survivors surprised everyone by beating blockbuster contenders Elden Ring and God of War: Ragnarok to win the award for best game. This year’s nominees include the blockbuster RPG Baldur’s Gate, the horror thriller Alan Wake 2, Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, PlayStation’s Insomniac Games Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and Dave the Diver, a humorous game where a sushi chef hunts his own fish.

Changes to this year’s awards process include giving members an additional three months to vote and publishing a shortlist of 60 games. Bafta’s Director of Awards and Content Executive Emma Baehr emphasized the diversity of the nominations, which also featured several first-time developers. “We’ve seen some big-budget games, with Baldur’s Gate leading with 10 nominations, but we’ve also seen British indie game Viewfinder with four nominations,” she noted. She added, “Eleven of the 12 performers in the performance categories are first-time nominees, and we look forward to welcoming them to the British Academy.”

The complete list of nominations is displayed below.

animation

alan wake 2
hi-fi rush
hogwarts legacy
marvel’s spiderman 2
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
super mario bros wonder

artistic achievement

alan wake 2
baldur’s gate 3
cocoon
Diablo IV
Final Fantasy XVI
hi-fi rush

audio achievements

alan wake 2
Call of Duty Modern Warfare III
hi-fi rush
The Legend of Zelda: Kingdom of Tears
marvel’s spiderman 2
Star Wars: Jedi Survivor

Alan Wake 2 has been nominated for eight awards due to its thrilling storyline. Photo courtesy of Remedy Entertainment

best games

alan wake 2
baldur’s gate 3
dave the diver
The Legend of Zelda: Kingdom of Tears
marvel’s spiderman 2
super mario bros wonder

british games

cassette beast
dead island 2
disney illusion island
football manager 2024
finder
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin

Debut match

cocoon
dave the diver
dredging
Stray Gods: Role-playing musical
Bemba
finder

Finder. Photo: Thunderful

evolving game

cyberpunk 2077
Final Fantasy XVI Online
fortnite
Forza Horizon 5
Genshin
no man’s sky

family

cocoon
dave the diver
disney illusion island
hi-fi rush
hogwarts legacy
super mario bros wonder

A game that goes beyond entertainment

Sennar’s chant
Goodbye Volcano High
Chia
Terra Nil
thirsty suitors
Bemba

game design

cocoon
dave the diver
dredging
The Legend of Zelda: Kingdom of Tears
marvel’s spiderman 2
finder

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multiplayer

baldur’s gate 3
Call of Duty Modern Warfare III
Diablo IV
forza motorsport
party animal
super mario bros wonder

music

alan wake 2
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
baldur’s gate 3
The Legend of Zelda: Kingdom of Tears
marvel’s spiderman 2

Impa appears in “The Legend of Zelda: Kingdom of Tears”. Photo: Nintendo

interactive entertainment

Star Wars: Jedi Survivor

story

alan wake 2
baldur’s gate 3
dredging
Final Fantasy XVI
The Legend of Zelda: Kingdom of Tears
Star Wars: Jedi Survivor

new intellectual property

Sennar’s chant
dave the diver
dredging
hi-fi rush
Jusant
finder

main character performer

Amelia Tyler as narrator in Baldur’s Gate 3
Cameron Monaghan as Cal Kestis in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Nadji Jeter plays Miles Morales in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Neil Newbon as Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3
Samantha Béhar as Karlach in Baldur’s Gate 3
Yuri Ronenthal as Peter Parker in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Cameron Monaghan in Star Wars: Jedi Survivor. Photo: John Kopaloff/Getty Images

supporting cast

Andrew Wincott as Raphael in Baldur’s Gate 3
Debra Wilson as Cele Junda in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Ralph Ineson as Sidolphus “Cid” Telamon in “Final Fantasy XVI”
Sam Lake as Alex Casey in Alan Wake 2
Tony Todd plays Venom in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Tracy Wilds as Jaheira in Baldur’s Gate 3

technical achievements

alan wake 2
Final Fantasy XVI
mountain horizon call

entertainment

The Legend of Zelda: Kingdom of Tears
marvel’s spiderman 2
star field

EE Player Selection (Public Vote)

baldur’s gate 3
cyberpunk 2077
fortnite
The Legend of Zelda: Kingdom of Tears
Lethal Company
marvel’s spiderman 2

Source: www.theguardian.com

Keeping your eyes open can lead to faster sleep because of the body’s natural response to darkness.

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Do you find yourself tossing and turning all night once again? Are you counting down the hours until your unyielding alarm goes off? If you’re a reader struggling with sleep, you’re not alone.

Many of us have experienced the frustration of feeling like the more we try to force ourselves to sleep, the more it eludes us. But is this truly the case?

According to recent trends on TikTok, trying to fall asleep can actually hinder your ability to do so. In fact, influencers are actively promoting the idea of not trying to fall asleep. This counterintuitive technique is known as “paradoxical intent,” and while it may be new to TikTok, it’s a scientifically backed method.

As it turns out, there is scientific support behind TikTok after all. Who would have thought?

“Paradoxical intentions are a well-established therapeutic technique that has been used in psychotherapy for decades,” explains Colin Espie, Professor of Sleep Medicine at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford. “In fact, I conducted my first research using paradoxical intention therapy in the 1980s.”

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What is paradoxical intent?

Paradoxical intent can be useful for various phobias and anxiety disorders, but the underlying premise remains the same: deliberately adopting an attitude contrary to the desired outcome.

For instance, if a patient has a phobia of failure, a psychologist might assist the patient in confronting failure instead of avoiding it, ultimately reducing fear and anxiety.

“The fundamental directive regarding sleep is that you should aim to stay awake when you’re in bed, feeling sleepy, or waking up in the middle of the night,” Espie explains. “You need to switch your intention from sleeping to staying awake.”

Although this approach may seem illogical at first, it is based on the idea that trying too hard to sleep can backfire.

“Sleep is largely an involuntary process, so attempting to control it often interferes with the natural sleep process,” Espie says. “Essentially, you can’t force sleep; you can only invite it. It’s like stepping back from being awake rather than actively pursuing sleep.”

How to use paradoxical intention to fall asleep faster

Implementing paradoxical intent is simple, but there are some considerations to keep in mind before giving it a try.

1. Go to bed when you feel sleepy (not before)

It may seem obvious, but you can’t sleep unless you’re tired. While paradoxical intention involves trying to stay awake, attempting this during the day is not as challenging.

“Sometimes people go to bed early because they’re desperate for sleep, but if they’re not morning people, they may struggle, leading to falling asleep early in the evening,” Espie notes.

2. Prepare for bed as usual

Despite its fancy name, paradoxical intent doesn’t require any elaborate setup. There’s no need for high-tech gadgets or sleep meditation apps; simplicity is key.

Espy recommends getting into bed, turning off the lights, and lying down.

3. Keep your eyes open instead of closing them

There are several ways to practice paradoxical intent, but this is the simplest approach.

“Keep your eyes open, assume that position, and tell yourself, ‘I am not falling asleep, I am not falling asleep, I am not falling asleep,'” Espie suggests.

“Then, encourage yourself further by saying phrases like, ‘I will stay awake a bit longer,’ or ‘I will keep my eyes open for 10 more seconds.’ Whenever you feel your eyes drooping, say ‘No.'” he explains.

Gradually, it becomes increasingly challenging to keep your eyes open, and instead of struggling to fall asleep, you find yourself struggling to keep your eyes open.

If you sense sleep approaching, try not to resist or acknowledge it too much. Simply allow it to happen.

As an additional tip, Espie recommends keeping a tissue or handkerchief under your pillow in case your eyes start to water.

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4. Don’t take it too literally

The most common mistake people make when employing paradoxical intent is interpreting it too literally.

“It’s not about tormenting yourself to stay awake at all costs. The goal isn’t to prevent yourself from sleeping,” Espie clarifies.

“If you overdo it, you will be overly determined to stay awake, interfering with sleep. The real aim is to allow sleep to naturally happen,” he adds.

5. Be consistent

Changing your sleep patterns doesn’t happen overnight, so persistence is key. “To derive the most benefit from these strategies, you need to continue using them for a while,” Espie advises.

“One challenge with such an approach,” notes the Oxford professor who advocates for it, “is that if it works initially but falters over time, people may become disillusioned, potentially leading to depression.”

“This is usually because individuals underestimate the extent of their sleep problems and the ingrained habit of overthinking,” he explains.

If the issue persists, seeking professional help is crucial. “It’s not just a lifestyle matter,” Espie emphasizes, “sometimes, people need assistance.”

“This is not a hack”

Contrary to what TikTokers may suggest, there is no magical trick to manipulate our brains.

“You can’t outsmart human nature,” Espie asserts. “Sleep is an essential process, and this is not a technique to switch on sleep. It’s not a game.”

He finds it intriguing that sleep advice and techniques are gaining popularity on social media. TikTok’s #insomnia tag currently boasts around 600,000 posts, while the #sleep tag has over 2.9 million posts.

Meanwhile, according to a study investigating American adults, nearly three-quarters of social media usage occurs right before bedtime. It might be an opportune time to learn new sleep strategies, don’t you think?

According to Espie, the increasing online interest in the subject could indicate rising levels of insomnia.

“The value of sleep and the need for effective solutions to sleep issues are sorely underestimated, with many young individuals in particular struggling,” he observes.

“This is why paradoxical intentions are so beneficial; they remind us that the answer isn’t a gimmick, pill, or potion. It’s sleep itself.

“The solution lies in establishing healthy sleep habits to attain the rest you deserve.”

About our experts

Colin Espie is a Professor of Sleep Medicine at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience (NDCN) at the University of Oxford. He established the Experimental and Clinical Sleep Medicine Research Program at the Sir Jules Soane Sleep & Circadian Institute (SCNi). Additionally, he serves as the Clinical Director of Oxford’s Sleep Medicine Online Program.

Professor Espie is also a Research Fellow at Somerville College, University of Oxford, and a Senior Research Fellow in the University’s Department of Psychiatry. He is the author of the book “Overcoming Insomnia,” a self-help guide utilizing cognitive-behavioral techniques, including guidance on paradoxical intentions.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Groundbreaking Discovery in Quantum Gravity May Lead to a Unified “Theory of Everything”

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Curious about what goes on inside a black hole? Wondering about the origins of the Big Bang and how the forces of the universe came together? These are some of the biggest questions humanity has about the universe, and new discoveries are bringing us closer to the answers than ever before.

Scientists have made a breakthrough in measuring gravity in the quantum world, with British, Dutch, and Italian teams utilizing new technology to detect weak gravity on small particles. By suspending particles weighing just 0.43 mg at ultra-low temperatures, they were able to isolate the vibrations of the particles using magnets and superconducting devices.

This groundbreaking technique allowed scientists to measure weak attractive forces of only 30 attonewtons (aN), a force smaller than that of a bacterium on a table’s surface. Previously, understanding how gravity worked at the microscopic level had eluded scientists, but this discovery has shed light on the interaction of forces with particles at a small scale.

Lead author of the study, Tim Hooks from the University of Southampton, noted that scientists have been struggling for a century to understand how gravity and quantum mechanics interact. This new discovery brings us closer to unraveling the mysteries of the universe and potentially paves the way for further advancements in measuring quantum gravity.

By continuing to refine the method used in this study, researchers hope to delve deeper into the forces that govern the universe, ultimately leading to a better understanding of the very structure of our cosmos.

“We are on the brink of new discoveries about gravity and the quantum world,” said Professor Hendrik Ulbricht, one of the study authors.

For more information, visit Professor Hendrik Ulbricht’s profile.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Rising Temperatures Lead to Minimal Ice on Great Lakes

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The Great Lakes, known for ice fishing and winter's frozen waves, rang out a nearly bare New Year's bell.

Less than 0.4% of ice covered the Great Lakes on New Year's Day, according to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Institute, which uses satellite data to measure ice concentrations.

“There's basically nothing,” said James Kessler, a physical scientist at the institute, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “We have about 50 years of data. Today's average for January 1st is about 9%.”

Kessler said that although ice coverage is well below normal, it is not unheard of for ice concentrations to fall below 1% on January 1, still early in the season.

The amount of ice on the Great Lakes (Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario) determines when and how raw materials and cargo are shipped from ports in the Midwest. Fish species such as whitefish are covered in ice to protect their eggs for reproduction. Lower ice levels could increase erosion and contribute to changes in weather patterns in the region.

Kessler said temperatures have been unseasonably high this season, making it difficult for ice to form on the lake's surface. According to his research, the Great Lakes' annual ice area varies greatly from year to year, but tends to decline at a rate of about 5% every decade.

“This is certainly a sign of climate change,” he says.

Ice typically reaches its maximum extent from mid-February to early March. In a typical year, about 40% of the Great Lakes are covered in ice at peak times.

Last year, ice coverage reached about 23% and by mid-February the ice had diminished. just covered 7% of the lake.

In 2023, Earth experienced its hottest year on record, largely due to human-induced climate change. Researchers expect temperatures to rise further this year due to El Niño, a natural climate pattern that releases ocean heat into the atmosphere.El Niño winter Warmer trends across the Great Lakes region.

seasonal outlook Temperatures in the Great Lakes region are expected to be higher than normal this year. below average ice.

Forecasters expect little change this week.

Over the next five days, “temperatures are expected to remain near normal across the Great Lakes region, making the forecast less favorable for ice growth,” one report said. Ice outlook prepared by the National Weather Service in Cleveland.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Is it possible for rounding errors in software to lead to plane crashes?

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June 4, 1996 marked the first flight of the Ariane 5 rocket, which unfortunately ended in disaster. Just forty seconds after takeoff, the rocket veered off course and exploded. This catastrophic event was caused by a small software error, where a 64-bit floating point number was converted to a 16-bit signed integer. The conversion failed because the number was greater than 32,767, the maximum value that can be represented in 16 bits. This overflow error led to the dumping of debug data into the memory area controlling the rocket’s engines, resulting in the failure of the backup computers and ultimately leading to the rocket’s loss of control and explosion.

In 2015, it was revealed that a similar overflow error could potentially cause a power outage if a Boeing 787’s generator controls were activated for 248 consecutive days, reaching the maximum value for a 32-bit signed register. However, the issue could be resolved by resetting the counters. Fortunately, the flawed software in the 737 Max did not cause a disaster like the Ariane 5 incident.

Overflow errors are similar to rounding errors, but have subtle differences. Rounding errors usually occur when a number is calculated incorrectly and stored in binary, causing small errors to accumulate and eventually lead to significant errors.

Rounding errors can affect missiles…

A well-known example of this type of mistake occurred during the Gulf War, where a Patriot missile hit barracks instead of the incoming Scud missile, resulting in casualties. This was due to rounding errors in the tracking system that accumulated and caused the missile to veer off target.

…and the train

Software bugs can have disastrous consequences, as seen in an incident in May 2019 where an experienced train driver unfamiliar with the train’s new software accidentally accelerated to 15 mph, causing a collision and derailing the train.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Targeting the brain with Ozempic and Wegovy may lead to reduced inflammation

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Ozempic is a diabetes drug, but it is also often used for weight loss.

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Weight loss and diabetes injections such as Wigovy and Ozempic (both semaglutide) are more widely used than initially thought after studies in mice suggest they act on the brain and reduce inflammation throughout the body. Possible medical benefits.

This finding may explain why this class of drugs appears to reduce heart attacks more than would be expected from weight loss effects alone.

It also supports their use in combating a wide range of health conditions that involve inflammation, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, which is being studied in clinical trials.

Semaglutide works by mimicking a gut hormone called GLP-1. Normally released after a meal, GLP-1 reduces appetite, makes you feel full, and triggers the release of insulin, a hormone involved in blood sugar regulation.

Some studies suggest that semaglutide not only reduces weight, but also reduces inflammation, and is a mild increase in certain types of immune system activity.Lowers levels of a compound in the blood called C-reactive protein (CRP) is a well-established sign of inflammation. Daniel Drucker At the University of Toronto, Canada.

A growing body of research suggests that inflammation is involved in many conditions not previously associated with the immune system, such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease, but this does not yet lead to new treatments available in the clinic. has not been applied.

Because obesity is also associated with inflammation, semaglutide’s effect on CRP may simply be a side effect of weight loss, rather than the drug itself reducing inflammation.

To find out, Drucker and his colleagues investigated how several GLP-1 mimics affect inflammation in mice. First, they injected bacteria from the mice’s intestines into other parts of their abdomens, causing bacterial infections in their blood. This triggers a strong immune response and causes inflammation.

Some mice were also injected with GLP-1 mimics, either semaglutide or another member of this drug class called exenatide.

GLP-1 mimics reduced the animals’ inflammatory response to infection, but this did not occur when the researchers used mice genetically modified so that their brain cells lacked receptors for GLP-1. Ta.

The researchers also found no reduction in inflammation when they tested genetically normal mice whose brains were injected with compounds that block GLP-1 receptors.

Taken together, these results show that GLP-1 mimetics such as Ozempic act on brain cells to reduce inflammation, and that this is not just a side effect of weight loss.

“Losing weight is good, but you don’t need to lose weight to be effective,” Drucker says. For example, in Wegovy’s recent randomized trial, he says, the drug started preventing heart attacks within the first few months, before people lost significant weight.

“It was known that these drugs acted on inflammation,” he says. Ivan Koichev at Oxford University. “This paper is helpful because it reveals the underlying mechanism.”

In theory, anti-inflammatory drugs could cause people to develop additional infections, but this has so far not been observed in people who received the shots for weight loss or diabetes, Koychev says. .

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Source: www.newscientist.com

European Regulatory Challenges Lead to Cancelation of $20 Billion Adobe and Figma Acquisition Plan

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Adobe finally makes a huge $20 billion bid to acquire rival Figma officially deadThis comes after the companies announced today that their acquisition plans had been scrapped due to regulatory pushback in Europe.

The deal, first announced last September, has always attracted regulatory scrutiny due to its size and the fact that it removed one of Adobe’s major rivals from the shadows. Ta. The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) Take a closer look at the transaction For the most part in 2023, news has not yet been filed to prevent the deal from happening. Appeared Before the weekend, Adobe and Figma had met with the Department of Justice in a last-ditch effort to avoid legal action.

Regardless, both companies were already facing significant headwinds in Europe. In late November, the UK announced that the proposed acquisitionharm innovation”, following similar findings in the European Union (EU), which announced a similar course of action in August.

The core of the concern is that Figma is the “clear market leader” in interactive product design tools and acts as a “constraining influence” on Adobe in the digital asset creation tools space. was. Therefore, if Adobe acquires Figma, Figma is a “valid competitor.”

in Today’s blog postFigma CEO and co-founder Dylan Field said the “co-decision” was reached because the two companies were unable to convince regulators of the differences between their products and businesses.

“This is not the outcome we were hoping for, despite spending thousands of hours with regulators around the world detailing the differences between our business, our products, and the markets we serve. We no longer see a path forward for regulatory approval of this transaction,” Field said.

This is a developing story.Please update the latest information.

Source: techcrunch.com

Analyst warns that Google’s major court defeat to Epic Games may lead to reorganization of Big Tech companies due to antitrust concerns

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One of Google’s most vocal critics says Google’s “catastrophic” antitrust loss this week to “Fortnite” maker Epic Games is a huge blow to Big Tech companies and other companies. This could potentially change the situation completely, potentially exposing the company to a wave of restructuring. Matt Stoller, director of research at the antitrust watchdog American Economic Liberties Project, said the jury’s unanimous verdict that Google maintained an illegal monopoly through the Android app store was a sign that “the truly powerful Big Apple… This is the first time a “tech company” has lost a major antitrust case. case. “There will be appeals and things like that, but I think over the next five years or so Google will start to settle and agree to splits because they know they’re going to lose.” , it’s not worth it. There is a lot of legal uncertainty.” Stoller told journalist Glenn Greenwald on his show “System Update.” “I know there’s a lot of cynicism, but this is actually how we’re going to rebuild these companies,” Stoller added. “It’s kind of amazing that it actually works.” “It’s over.”Google just lost a major antitrust lawsuit brought by Epic Games, the first judgment of its kind against a major tech company.The potential impact on Google, Amazon, Facebook, and other companies cannot be overstated.@MatthewStoller I’ll explain 👇 pic.twitter.com/aaGQ96Bcgu— System Update (@SystemUpdate_) December 13, 2023 Stoller added that the jury’s decision sets an important new legal precedent that is likely to influence the process in a range of antitrust cases facing Google and other large companies. Google is awaiting a judge’s ruling on a landmark Justice Department case targeting its online search empire, as well as separate investigations into its digital advertising business and Google Maps business. “All of a sudden, there’s a precedent and these sneaky judges are going to have to find reasons to rule in favor of Google, whereas before they had to find reasons to rule against Google. Deaf,” Stoller said. “I think all of these lawsuits are going to be overturned, and it’s going to be much harder for Google to win the lawsuits.” As The Post reported, experts say the Google v. Epic ruling could upend the business model that underpins the company’s lucrative Play Store. The Play Store previously charged large companies up to a 30% fee on in-app purchases and required them to: Use your company’s pricing system. Matt Stoller is the research director of the American Economic Liberties Project, an antitrust watchdog group. X/@SystemUpdate_ U.S. District Judge James Donato will next decide which illegal business practices Google must eliminate. A judge could order Google to stop paying major app developers to discourage them from launching competing app stores and suspend billing requirements, among other remedies. . In May 2024, Judge Amit Mehta will decide Google’s fate in a Justice Department lawsuit that alleges it has maintained an illegal monopoly over online search. The Post reached out to Google for comment on Stoller’s comments. Google faces a series of antitrust battles in the future. EPA Meanwhile, Google has already announced plans to contest the verdict in the Epic lawsuit. “Android and Google Play offer more choice and openness than any other major mobile platform,” said Wilson White, the company’s vice president of government affairs and public policy. “This trial makes clear that we are in intense competition with Apple and its App Store, as well as the App Store for Android devices and game consoles.”

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Source: nypost.com

Can Natural Genetic Factors Lead to Having More Children in a Shorter Time?

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Scientific Evidence Backs Antagonistic Pleiotropy Theory of Aging

Comprehensive studies have confirmed the antagonistic pleiotropy theory of aging, indicating a genetic correlation between high fertility and shortened lifespan. Nonetheless, environmental factors are highlighted as major influencers of modern human lifespan and reproductive behavior.

New research further supports the idea that genes promoting early reproduction can accelerate aging but emphasizes the overriding role of environmental factors in determining longevity and reproduction.

Originating in a 1957 theory proposed by evolutionary biologist George Williams, the antagonistic pleiotropy theory posits that genetic mutations favoring early reproduction could simultaneously contribute to aging, making life shorter.

The theory was tested in a new study led by the University of Michigan, involving over 276,000 individuals, reaffirming its validity. The researchers found distinct genome-wide evidence supporting the theory.

A novel breakthrough discovery showcased a strong negative genetic correlation between reproduction and longevity, suggesting that mutations promoting reproduction tend to shorten lifespan. However, this link is also influenced by environmental factors.

It was established that the number and timing of reproduction can impact lifespan. Remarkably, having two children was linked to the longest lifespan, according to this study, reinforcing previous research findings.

The concept of pleiotropy suggests that a single mutation can impact multiple traits, while antagonistic pleiotropy posits that mutations can be beneficial or harmful depending on various circumstances. The evolutionary basis of aging is seen through this lens.

In line with this, the study’s outcome points to significant environmental changes, such as lifestyle and technological advances, as opposed to genetic variants identified as drivers of human phenotypic changes.

Reference: “Evidence for the role of selection for reproductively advantageous alleles in human aging” by Erping Long and Jianzhi Zhang, December 8, 2023. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh4990

Source: scitechdaily.com