Tag Archives: offer

Theobromine: A Dark Chocolate Compound That May Offer Anti-Aging Benefits

Posted on by
Reply

Researchers at King’s College London have found significant connections between theobromine, a widely-known plant compound from cocoa, and measures of epigenetic aging, indicating that theobromine may be associated with human aging.

third others. We illustrate that the documented beneficial relationship between health and aging and theobromine intake extends to the molecular epigenetic level in humans. Image credit: Sci.News.

“Coffee and cocoa are popular foods and are linked to lower rates of cardiovascular disease and mortality,” commented lead author Ramy Saad, Ph.D., along with colleagues.

“They contain several significant alkaloids, including theobromine, caffeine, theophylline, paraxanthine, and 7-methylxanthine.”

“Theobromine and 7-methylxanthine are partial metabolites of caffeine, yet both exist in much greater concentrations in cocoa as unprocessed primary metabolites.”

“Theobromine has long been associated with various health benefits and aging. For instance, studies in model organisms have confirmed a link between theobromine and extended lifespan.”

“Moreover, various human cohort observational studies have reported clear links between theobromine intake and multiple aspects of improved health.”

“Nonetheless, the exact impacts of theobromine on health and aging remain unclear, and the molecular pathways behind these effects are largely unknown.”

In the research, scientists analyzed the levels of theobromine in individuals’ blood against blood-based indicators of biological aging.

Across two European cohorts, which included 509 participants from TwinsUK and 1,160 from KORA, individuals with elevated levels of theobromine in their bloodstream exhibited a lower biological age compared to their chronological age.

“Our research discovered a correlation between key components in dark chocolate and prolonged youthfulness,” stated the study’s senior author, Professor Jordana Bell.

“While we’re not advocating for increased dark chocolate consumption, this study sheds light on how common foods might offer insights into healthier, longer living.”

The researchers also explored whether other metabolites found in cocoa and coffee reflected similar associations.

However, they concluded that the effect appears to be unique to theobromine.

Two different assessments were used to measure the biological age of participants.

Some researchers examined chemical alterations in DNA to estimate an individual’s aging rate.

Other scientists assessed the length of telomeres, the protective end caps of chromosomes, as telomere shortening is linked with aging and age-associated diseases.

“This is a fascinating finding, and the next crucial question is: What drives this association, and how can we further explore the interactions between dietary metabolites and the epigenome?” Dr. Saad remarked.

“This strategy could unveil significant discoveries about both common and rare diseases, as related to aging and beyond.”

“This study has uncovered another molecular mechanism through which natural compounds present in cocoa promote health,” noted study co-author Dr. Ricardo Costeira.

“Although further investigation is warranted, the findings highlight the importance of population-level analysis in the fields of aging and genetics.”

of findings Published in a journal on December 10th aging.

_____

Ramy Third others. Theobromine is associated with delayed epigenetic aging. aging published online on December 10, 2025. doi: 10.18632/aging.206344

Source: www.sci.news

Daily Pills May Offer a Substitute for Weight Loss Injections

Posted on by
Reply

Pills may provide a more convenient method for taking weight-loss medications

H_Ko/Shutterstock

An oral pill could soon serve as an alternative to Wegovy and Ozempic injections after research demonstrated that it significantly reduces weight and enhances blood sugar levels in individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Created by the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, Orforglipron mimics the action of semaglutide, the key ingredient found in Wigovy and Ozempic, by imitating a hormone known as GLP-1.

In a previous trial, researchers discovered that individuals who were obese but did not have type 2 diabetes could lose an average of approximately 11 percent of their body weight over 72 weeks while using Orforglipron. Although this is less than the 15% typically observed with similar treatments, many find the convenience of taking a pill more appealing. With semaglutide injections, the preference for oral medication becomes clear, as noted by Deborah Horn from the University of Texas.

To assess its effectiveness for those with obesity and type 2 diabetes, Horn and her colleagues enlisted over 1,600 individuals from ten countries, including India, Australia, China, Germany, Brazil, and the United States.

Approximately 900 participants were assigned to receive varying daily doses of orforglipron—low, medium, or high—while the remainder received placebo pills alongside lifestyle guidance.

After 72 weeks, individuals in the high-dose group lost nearly 10 percent on average, with 67 percent of that group achieving over 5 percent weight loss. The middle and low-dose groups recorded around 7 percent and 5 percent reductions, respectively, while the placebo group had less than a 3 percent decrease.

This study reaffirms that Orforglipron results in less weight loss compared to injectable GLP-1 medications; however, it may still enhance health and quality of life. Stefan Trapp from University College London, who did not participate in the study, remarked, “Even a modest 5% weight loss generally leads to clear benefits, such as increased exercise capacity, lifestyle changes, and reduced risk of other illnesses.”

Moreover, participants receiving high doses experienced an average drop of nearly 2 percent in blood sugar levels, with approximately 75 percent reaching levels typically aimed for diabetics, Horn shared. Conversely, those on lower doses saw a mere 0.1% reduction, while the placebo group exhibited no significant change.

Roughly 10% of the individuals taking high and medium doses had to discontinue use due to side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea—nearly double the occurrence seen in the low and placebo groups. Nonetheless, most participants deemed the side effects manageable, according to Horn. “The side effects were standard for other GLP-1 injectable medications,” she explained.

Horn mentioned that Eli Lilly anticipates the FDA will approve the drug for obesity and type 2 diabetes by early next year. As a physician, she hopes for approval of all three doses to provide patients with options to optimize their health while minimizing side effects.

Orforglipron does not necessitate refrigeration or syringes, which may lower manufacturing, storage, and distribution costs compared to injectable GLP-1 drugs. This, along with the elimination of injection-related discomfort, could enhance access to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, which are currently costly and hard to obtain in many low- and middle-income nations, Trapp noted.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Scientists Say Ultra-HD TVs Offer Little Advantage for Average Viewers | TV

Posted on by
Reply

In many contemporary living rooms, large TVs reign supreme; however, researchers suggest that investing in ultra-high-definition models may not be worthwhile.

Scientists from the University of Cambridge and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, discovered that in an average-sized living space, 4K or 8K screens offer no notable benefits compared to a similarly sized 2K screen typically found on computers and laptops. Essentially, there is no visible difference in image sharpness to the human eye.

“At a specific viewing distance, adding more pixels makes little difference; the human eye isn’t capable of detecting them, so I consider it a waste,” stated Dr. Maliha Ashraf, the study’s lead author from the University of Cambridge.

In an article published in Nature Communications, Ashraf and colleagues elaborate on measuring the visual resolution limits of the human eye, indicating that 20/20 vision allows detection of 60 pixels per degree (PPD), although many individuals with normal or corrected vision can see better than this.

“Basing display resolution solely on 20/20 vision underestimates what individuals can actually perceive,” Ashraf asserts. “That’s why we conducted direct measurements of the pixels people can identify.”

The research team set up a 27-inch 4K monitor in a mobile cage, allowing it to be adjusted closer or further from viewers. Eighteen participants with normal or corrected vision were shown two images at varying distances in random order. One image featured 1-pixel-wide vertical lines in colors such as black and white, red and green, or yellow and purple, while the other was a plain gray block. Participants were tasked with identifying the image containing the lines.

“If the lines are too thin or the screen resolution is excessive, the pattern appears as merely a gray image,” Ashraf explains. “We measured the points where individuals can barely discern differences. We referred to this as the resolution limit.”

Through their findings, researchers concluded that the human eye can perceive more detail than previously assumed, with a straight-on grayscale image averaging 94 PPD, red and green patterns averaging 89 PPD, and yellow and purple patterns at 53 PPD.

In a separate experiment, 12 participants viewed white text on a black background, or the reverse, from various distances and indicated when the text matched the sharpness of a clearly defined reference version.

“The resolution at which participants ceased to detect differences in text aligned with our observed results in line patterns,” Ashraf noted.

The research team shared a table featuring various screen sizes and viewing distances, along with the nearest standard resolution meeting or slightly exceeding most people’s visual limits.

“This means that if your setup falls within one of these parameters, upgrading to a higher resolution will not yield measurable benefits,” Ashraf remarked.

The team also offers a free online calculator that allows users to input their viewing distance, screen size, and resolution to see if their settings are within or below the human eye’s resolution limit. This helps users assess whether a higher resolution screen would enhance what they can see.

“For instance, if someone owns a 44-inch 4K TV and views it from about 8 feet away, they’re already seeing more detail than they can actually perceive. Upgrading to an 8K version of the same size won’t provide any sharper images,” Ashraf concluded.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Breastfeeding Triggers Immune Cell Surge and May Offer Cancer Protection

Posted on by
Reply

Immune-related changes occur in the breast after breastfeeding

Svetlana Repnitskaya/Getty Images

Breastfeeding has long been linked to lowering the risk of breast cancer. However, the precise mechanisms behind this effect remain elusive. Recent studies reveal that women who breastfeed possess a higher presence of specialized immune cells in their breasts that might inhibit malignant immune cells.

Previous findings indicate that the risk of breast cancer, which is the second most prevalent cancer globally, decreases by 4.3% for each year of breastfeeding. This preventive effect appears to be particularly advantageous for older mothers.

The exact reasons remain partially understood, but are believed to involve alterations in breast tissue and hormonal exposure. To investigate further, Shereen Roy and colleagues at the Peter McCallum Cancer Center in Victoria, Australia, examined breast tissue from 260 women from diverse ethnic backgrounds, aged 20 to 70. These women varied in their maternal status and breastfeeding experiences, with none having previously been diagnosed with breast cancer.

“We discovered that breastfeeding mothers have a greater quantity of specialized immune cells known as CD8+ T cells, which can persist in breast tissue for decades after childbirth,” says Roy. “These cells serve as local defenders, poised to combat abnormal cells that may lead to cancer.” In certain instances, these cells remained present for up to 50 years.

The researchers also investigated mice, some of which underwent a complete cycle of pregnancy, lactation, and breast recovery during the weaning of their pups. Their mammary tissue was analyzed 28 days later, by which point the mammary glands had reverted to their pre-pregnancy state. Other mice had their pups taken away shortly after birth, or they were not pregnant at all.

The study revealed that completing a full lactation cycle significantly increased the accumulation of specialized T cells in mammary tissue, a phenomenon not observed in the other mice. When triple-negative breast cancer cells, known for their aggressive nature, were transplanted into the mammary gland tissue, tumors developed much more slowly in mice that had experienced lactation. However, depleting these T cells led to rapid tumor growth.

The researchers also analyzed clinical data from over 1,000 women diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer post at least one full-term pregnancy. They found that women who breastfed exhibited tumors with a higher density of CD8+ T cells. “This indicates that the body’s immune response against breast cancer is active and ongoing,” notes Roy.

After considering other risk factors linked to breast cancer mortality, such as age, the researchers noted that women who breastfed had substantially longer overall survival. However, the variability in the data made it challenging to determine whether the duration of breastfeeding impacted this outcome.

The research team believes that T cells accumulate during breastfeeding to fend off infections that can lead to mastitis. Additionally, the relationship between pregnancy and breast cancer is complex, with studies indicating the risk being mitigated primarily for pregnancies occurring at younger ages.

“These findings have significant implications for understanding why certain women possess a more inherent protection against aggressive breast cancer and how we might develop targeted prevention and treatment strategies in the future,” Roy explains. However, she emphasizes that the choice to breastfeed is personal, not feasible for everyone, and may not always prevent breast cancer development.

Daniel Gray, along with researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Medical Research Institute in Victoria, highlighted that one of the study’s strengths was the analysis of multiple groups of women. “This lays the groundwork for future research that may elucidate how CD8+ T cells retain ‘memory’ of breastfeeding,” he comments.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Plant-Based Dog Foods Offer Nearly All Essential Nutrients for Your Pet

Posted on by
Reply

Plant-based and meat kibbles might both be deficient in crucial nutrients

Snizhana Halytska/Alamy

To ensure a balanced diet, vegetarian and vegan dog foods need specific adjustments.

Research indicates that meat-free dry kibble fulfills dogs’ protein and fat needs but is typically short on iodine and vitamin B. With the right supplements or improved commercial options, plant-based dog foods can maintain pets’ health while minimizing the ecological footprint of the pet food industry Rebecca Broseyk from the University of Nottingham, UK.

“Provided they get all necessary nutrients from their food, dogs will thrive,” she explains.

Many vegans and vegetarians who have dogs often grapple with the ethics of feeding meat to carnivorous pets David Gardner at the University of Nottingham. In light of this concern, manufacturers are beginning to offer plant-based options.

Organizations such as the European Federation of Pet Food Industry and the American Association for Feed Management are advocating for standardized assessments of commercial pet foods and additives to guarantee nutritional adequacy. Nonetheless, most pet foods globally lack thorough nutritional evaluations by independent experts, according to Gardner.

Brociek, Gardner, and their team examined 25 types of commercially available dry foods for healthy adult dogs, of which 19 were formulated with either meat or plants. Among these, two were labeled vegetarian and four were vegan.

Researchers assert that although marketed as nutritionally complete, none of the official dog dietary guidelines were entirely met. However, all foods did manage to provide appropriate levels of protein, fatty acids, and essential amino acids.

The majority, including five out of six plant-based options, fell short on iodine, although seaweed served as a beneficial remedy for these deficiencies.

The vitamins were generally sufficient, except for vitamin B, which was especially deficient in plant-based options. Dogs lacking vitamin B can experience skin, nerve, and digestive issues, suggesting that manufacturers should bolster their formulations, the researchers state.

The results indicate a need for oversight in dog food production across all types, not just those that are plant-based. Andrew Knight from Murdoch University, Australia, stresses, “Consumers expect that if a product claims to be nutritionally healthy, it should be accurate, but that’s often not the case.”

“A vegetarian diet can be beneficial if nutrients lacking in plant sources are adequately replaced, similar to the considerations for humans choosing vegetarian diets,” says Lucia Casini from the University of Pisa, Italy, who adds that pet owners should refrain from making their own plant-based meals for their pets.

Dogs have evolved to consume a variety of foods, so a well-rounded plant-based diet can fulfill their nutritional needs, which can also lower the environmental impact associated with meat production, including greenhouse gas emissions, according to Gardner.

“They are genuine omnivores,” he remarks. “As many Labrador owners (myself included) will attest, they will eat just about anything.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Tailored Brain Implants Offer Lasting Relief from Chronic Pain

Posted on by
Reply

Deep brain stimulation is already utilized for Parkinson’s disease

Living Art Enterprise/Science Photo Library

Brain implants capable of detecting pain and responding with deep brain stimulation may provide relief for individuals suffering from previously untreated chronic pain.

Chronic pain affects approximately 20% of the population in the United States, and many find little relief through traditional pain management approaches. This could be due to underlying changes in brain circuitry.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) involves using tiny electrodes to stimulate the brain, showing potential but also yielding inconsistent outcomes. The conventional method has typically applied a one-size-fits-all targeting of brain regions, despite indications that pain can stem from varying circuits in different individuals.

Thus, Prasad Shirvalkar and his team at the University of California, San Francisco, explored whether a personalized system might yield better results. In their study, six individuals with previously untreated chronic pain had their intracranial brain activity recorded and stimulated across 14 locations in the brain for ten days.

Out of five participants, the researchers pinpointed specific sites and stimulus frequencies that resulted in the most significant pain relief. While one participant noted no substantial relief, he could hold his wife for the first time in years, a notable improvement in his physical capabilities.

The research team employed machine learning to analyze and differentiate the electrical patterns associated with high and low pain levels. Consequently, they implanted permanent DBS electrodes personalized for each participant to monitor brain activity and optimize stimulation for pain detection and deactivation during sleep.

After six months of adjustments, each device underwent a trial where participants experienced real personalized stimulation for three months, followed by fake stimulation for another three months, or vice versa. The false stimulation targeted non-ideal locations with very low frequencies, and pain metrics were monitored multiple times daily throughout the trial.

On average, authentic stimulation led to a 50% reduction in daily pain intensity compared to the increase observed with spurious stimulation. Notably, the daily step counts increased by 18% during the false stimulation phase. Participants also reported fewer depressive symptoms and less pain interfering with daily life when undergoing real stimulation. These improvements persisted for over 3.5 years post-trial.

“This significant study employs the latest tools,” remarks Tim Dennison from Oxford University.

A previous challenge with DBS technology involved habituation; the brain would adapt to continuous stimulation, diminishing its effectiveness. Dennison suggests that extended benefits may arise from stimulating participants only when pain levels are elevated. The next phase will involve comparing adaptive versus constant stimuli to evaluate differences in outcomes.

“The other major hurdle lies in the economic feasibility and scalability of this method,” Dennison notes.

Topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Study Reveals TikTok Skincare Routines for Teens Offer Minimal Benefits

Posted on by
Reply

A recent study indicates that the skincare routines showcased by young TikTok influencers offer minimal benefits, and may even heighten the risk of skin irritation and allergies in children.

The research team notes a surge in young girls posting videos of intricate skincare regimens, which often feature moisturizers, toners, acne treatments, and anti-aging products.

In this pioneering study, researchers examined these TikTok videos and found that not only is the process complicated, but many girls rush to complete their routines, leading to practices that are costly, unnecessary, and potentially harmful.

“The hazards of utilizing these products, particularly among younger girls, greatly outweigh the minor benefits derived from active ingredients,” stated Dr. Molly Hales, the study’s lead author from Northwestern University.

Dr. Hales remarked that while social media can provide a platform for creativity and self-expression, young girls do not require such complicated routines.

“The risk arises when girls interpret this as an essential step for caring for their skin and safeguarding their health,” she warned.

“These products do not enhance skin health and are likely to degrade skin integrity over time.”

Instead, she suggests using a gentle cleanser once or twice daily and emphasizes that applying sunscreen suffices.


In the journal Paediatrics, Hales and her team describe how they set up two TikTok accounts for a 13-year-old, collecting a sample of 100 videos showcasing skincare routines created by young users.

They discovered that 81 of the 82 content creators were girls, aged between 7 and 18.

“Most of these creators displayed clear, healthy skin without visible blemishes,” the researchers observed, noting that the videos often alluded to beauty ideals linked to whiteness.

The study revealed an average of six products per skincare routine, typically from the same brand, with a total average cost of $168 (£124). However, factoring in additional products, the overall cost could exceed $500 (£369).

“Get Ready With Me” videos were the most prevalent, followed by “skincare routines” and “after-school” skincare clips.

The team found that many featured ingredients, like citric acid, could lead to skin irritation and heightened sun sensitivity, raising the risk of sunburn and skin damage. Only 26% of the 84 videos that included sunscreen featured it in their daytime routines.

Dr. Hales noted that using products with multiple active ingredients or layering identical actives could further elevate the risk of irritation.


The researchers found that 76% of the 25 most viewed videos featured at least one potential contact allergen, frequently in the form of fragrances.

Dr. Tess McPherson from the British Association of Dermatologists, who did not participate in the study, emphasized its importance, as it corroborates anecdotal evidence of a rise in young people seeking treatment for skin irritation.

“We are witnessing a significant increase in individuals desiring what they term perfect skin. This mindset is unproductive and fails to bring true happiness,” she commented.

Dr. McPherson further noted that many young people are requesting birthday money for costly skincare products.

Echoing the study’s findings, she pointed out that such videos perpetuate stigmas regarding conditions like acne and eczema, as well as fears surrounding aging.

“Younger children are seeking skincare items that they don’t need; these products are ineffective,” she remarked. “This reflects a troubling societal view of what one’s skin should ideally look like.”

A TikTok representative responded, stating: “This kind of content appears across all media, and while the author acknowledges not assessing the impact on teenage well-being, they recognize genuine benefits in teenage self-expression, parental bonding, and building a supportive TikTok community.”

This article was updated on June 9, 2025, to correct Dr. Tess McPherson’s title, which was previously misidentified as “Professor Tess McPherson.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Online virtual reality tools offer free assistance for public neurology work

Posted on by
Reply

A new online platform has been launched to help speakers practice in front of virtual audiences, easing the anxiety many face in public speaking situations.

Dr. Chris McDonald, founder of Cambridge University’s Immersive Technology Lab and creator of the platform, aims to eliminate long waits and high costs associated with seeking help for language anxiety.

“Most people experience language anxiety but don’t have access to treatment. This project aims to break down those barriers,” he explained.

Virtual reality public speaking The platform uses exposure therapy, combining breathing exercises and eye movements to reduce heart rate and fear response.

Users can practice public speaking in various virtual reality settings, from empty classrooms to large stadiums with thousands of people. McDonald refers to the latter as “overexposure therapy.”

McDonald mentioned that the platform, compatible with Android and iOS, offers scenarios like study materials, feedback mechanisms, and job interviews accessible via laptop, VR headset, or smartphone with a cheap mount.

In a recent study published in the Frontier Journal of Virtual Reality, 29 Chinese adolescents showed significant improvement in public speaking confidence and enjoyment after using the platform.

Further research is planned, but McDonald revealed that tens of thousands have already used the platform during development. He emphasized the importance of creating an effective and accessible tool for users.

Psychologist Dr. Matteo Cella from King’s College London’s Virtual Reality Lab acknowledged the platform’s potential benefits but stressed the need for robust trials to evaluate its efficacy.

Dr. Kim Smallman of Cardiff University highlighted the importance of assessing the impact and effectiveness of new technologies like VR in addressing mental health challenges.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Planetist scientists offer fresh insights into the warm and wet conditions on ancient Mars

Posted on by
Reply

The team of the planetary researcher led by Caltech has decided on a chemical mechanism that can maintain sufficient warmth in the early days of ancient Mars, perhaps to host life.

Adams et al。 Mars has experienced a temporary warm period for the 40 million years of integration, estimating that each event lasted about 100 to 00 years. Image credit: M. Kornmesser / ESO / N. risinger, Skysurvey.org.

“Because Mars is far from the sun, it was a very puzzle that Mars had liquid water on Mars. Dr. Adams said.

“Hydrogen was previously theoretical as a magical component, mixed with carbon dioxide in Mars, causing an episode of greenhouse warming.”

“However, the life of air hydrogen was short, so a more detailed analysis was needed.”

In this study, Dr. Adams and his colleagues used photochemical modeling to describe the details of the relationship with hydrogen in the early atmosphere of Mars and how the relationship has changed over time.

“The early Mars is a lost world, but if you ask the right question, you can reconstruct in detail,” said Professor Robin Wordworth at Harvard University.

“In this study, we will integrate the atmosphere and climate of the atmosphere for the first time and bring some impressive new predictions that can be tested if you bring back Mars to Earth.”

The authors changed the model called dynamics to simulate how the combination of hydrogen and other gas, which responded to both the ground and air, reacted the early Mars climate.

They discovered that Mars has been a warm episode of about 40 million years, 400 million to 3 billion years ago during the Noatian and Hesperian days in Mars, and that each event lasted more than 10000 years.

These estimated values ​​match today's geological characteristics of Mars.

During the warm and damp period, the hydrogen of the crust or the lost water on the ground was driven, and sufficient hydrogen was supplied to accumulate in the atmosphere for millions of years.

During the fluctuations between the warm climate and the cold climate, the chemistry of the atmosphere of Mars also fluctuated. Carbon dioxide is constantly attacked by sunlight and is converted to carbon monoxide.

During the warm period, carbon dioxide can return to carbon dioxide and control carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

However, if it is long enough, the recycling decelerates, accumulates carbon monoxide, and reduces the reduction, that is, less oxygen.

Therefore, the red oxidation state of the atmosphere changed dramatically over time.

“We have identified all of these alternate time scale,” said Dr. Adams.

“And I explained all the same parts of the same photochemical model.”

Modeling work gives a potential new insight into the conditions for supporting the pre -buiotics chemistry (the basis of life after we know), and to the end of its life at intervals between cold and oxidation. Lends issues.

Researchers are working to find evidence of these alternatives using isotopic chemical modeling.

They will compare these results with the rocks of the Mars Sample Return Mission in the future.

Since Mars has no plate tectonics, unlike the earth, the surface seen today resembles the surface long ago, making the history of lakes and rivers more interesting.

“It will be a really wonderful case study for how the planet evolves over time,” said Dr. Adams.

study Published in the journal Natural global science。

______

D. Adams et al。 The warm climate of the early episode on Mars prepared by hydration of the crust. nut. GeosciReleased online on January 15, 2025. Doi: 10.1038/S41561-024-01626-8

Source: www.sci.news

AI tools can offer ministers a ‘tone check’ on the reception of their policies by MPs

Posted on by
Reply

A new artificial intelligence tool known as Parlex can notify ministers about the potential unpopularity of a policy within their own party through a search called “parliamentary mood check.”

Parlex is just one of the AI tools being developed for ministers and civil servants to anticipate issues with backbenchers and pinpoint supportive legislators.

By inputting a policy outline like a 20 mph speed limit, the tool can predict how legislators will respond based on their past contributions in Congress. A demonstration video on the government website demonstrates historical opposition from Conservative MPs and support from Labour MPs for traffic calming measures.

Described as a “vibe check,” the tool helps policy teams understand the political landscape and develop response strategies before formally proposing a policy in Congress.

According to a report by The Times, key MPs like Iain Duncan Smith and former MP Tobias Ellwood oppose the 20mph limit, while Labour MP Kerry McCarthy supports traffic calming measures.

The tool is expected to be more beneficial for civil servants than ministers who should already possess a good understanding of congressional views.

Chancellor Keir Starmer recently announced an AI plan involving significant investments in Britain’s computing capacity to integrate the technology into the nation’s infrastructure.

The government’s initiatives include releasing public data to foster AI businesses, including anonymized NHS data for research and innovation purposes with strong privacy safeguards in place.

Ministers believe AI could stimulate Britain’s economic growth and generate an estimated economic boost of up to £470bn over the next decade.

Parlex is just one of many AI tools being developed within the government, with other tools like Redbox aimed at automating document analysis for civil servants.

Skip past newsletter promotions

The tool will soon be available to all civil servants in the Cabinet Office and DSIT, aiming to streamline manual processes and increase efficiency.

Another program called Consult generates revenue by automating consultation processes, allowing civil servants to better analyze and act on public opinion.

The Department for Work and Pensions has also utilized AI, including ‘whitemail’ to analyze letters received daily and communicate information more effectively.

However, challenges have arisen, such as inaccuracies in identifying housing benefit fraud suspects due to government algorithms underperforming.

Source: www.theguardian.com

This year’s sequels offer a comforting nostalgia amidst chaos.

Posted on by
Reply

DIn my 30-year career as a games journalist, I’ve written many articles about the “most anticipated games of the year,” and they almost always have a familiar theme. At least we have an original title or two to look forward to. From today’s vantage point, the gaming industry’s ennui against predictability seems incredibly archaic. We didn’t know how good it was.

The past five years have seen seismic shifts in the mainstream industry. A large part of that has to do with the irresistible rise of “live service” games like Fortnite, GTA Online, and Genshin, which have survived for years through voracious subscription models. The largest company is highly profitable, and since its launch in 2017, Fortnite has earned an estimated $20 billion (15.7 billion pounds), maintained 500 million player accounts Entering the 6th year. Estimates will continue to work in GTA Online $500 per year (£399m), more than a decade after its initial release.

For the past two years, major publishers have been vying for a share of the huge success of live services, often with disastrous results. In the past 18 months, three major live service games have been canceled – Creative Assembly’s Hyenas, Sony’s Concord, and Ubisoft’s XDefiant – with losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars, studio closures, and staff layoffs. Masu. In 2023, there were approximately 10,000 layoffs in the gaming industry. According to Online layoff tracker Managed by game artist Farhan Noor, that number is approaching 15,000 in 2024. Olivia Rodrigo puts it succinctly: “God, this place is terrible.”.

So now, when I look at the games scheduled to arrive in 2025, my mood has changed a bit. surely, many of the sequel. Of course, Grand Theft Auto VI is coming in the fall and will be the mega event of the year. But there’s also Hideo Kojima’s post-apocalyptic sci-fi opera Death Stranding 2. Sid Meier’s historical strategy simulation Civilization VII. Monster Hunter Wild is Capcom’s open-world beast-hunting masterpiece. and Ubisoft’s latest time-traveling hitman’s journey, Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Not a month passes without some kind of nostalgia-filled iteration of the series.

monster hunter wild. Photo: Capcom

And I felt… relieved. Naturally, many of these large, expensive, and ambitious projects will be in production. in front The industry has doubled down on its obsession with IdentityKit Live Services wallet attackers. Nevertheless, it’s oddly reassuring to see that they haven’t been abruptly abandoned or converted to free-to-play as far as I know. Gacha A game packed with microtransactions and multiple interconnected currencies.

In the coming months, we will see a lot of aging intellectual property being rebuilt by major publishers looking for alternatives to what is clearly a very unstable live service merry-go-round. I think so. This year is expected to see a reboot of the classic role-playing series “Fable,” Sega unearths brands like “Crazy Taxi” and “Shinobi,” and SNK brings the fighting game series “Fatal Fury” to life after 25 years. I will revive it for the first time in a while. This is all very similar to how the music, film, and stage music industry continually repackages classic albums and movies to create premium experiences that cost money for older fans. We all need reassurance during these difficult and unpredictable times.

But I don’t think the big titles coming out next year will just be a safe way to make money. We don’t know much about GTA VI, but we do know that unlike most live service titles, which are aimed at the widest possible audience around the world, it’s going to be wild, controversial, and very adult. I am. Death Stranding 2, like its predecessor, will be a largely incomprehensible but absolutely brilliant study of death and loneliness on a devastated planet. The destruction will be as violent as ever. These are such big games that you don’t have to worry about alienating any key demographic. There’s no need to incorporate virtual currency or seasonal battle passes into the expansive story (although GTA VI definitely comes with an online multiplayer side hustle). One of the last games I reviewed in 2024 was the moody and depressing open-world adventure Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl. In this game, you travel through a vanished Ukraine, survive by eating moldy bread, and are attacked by mad dogs. Oh, how nice it is to be thrown out into this wretched landscape again. How amazing that this game is still being made and sold.

Somehow, amidst the craziness of the modern mainstream gaming industry, returning to the games of yesteryear has become something very courageous and optimistic. What a great time to be alive with a joypad and enjoying the sequel.

what to play

Qud’s Cave. Photo: Kit Fox Games

If you’re looking for an incredibly deep fantasy roguelike adventure and enjoy the aesthetics of 1980s computer role-playing games. Kudo’s Cave It’s for you. It’s a vast, detailed opera of games with a sci-fi flavor, filled with strange mutant creatures, exotic plants, and fallen civilizations, all with simple (yet stylish) 2D visuals and lots of communicated through an interconnected menu system. The world and elements of the story are procedurally generated, leading to vastly different playthroughs as you explore the landscape, defeat monsters, and collect items.

Developed over 15 years by a small team, the game has the same idiosyncratic and obsessive nature as the widely recognized genre classic Dwarf Fortress, but I found it more approachable and I found it fascinating. As I sit there feeling a little confused, the 5 hours mysteriously fly by. It’s really strange.

Available: computer
Estimated play time: hundreds of hours

Skip past newsletter promotions

what to read

Stardew Valley. Photo: ConcernedApe

  • of Steam Winter Sale is underway! There are many bargain items, Only until the sale ends tomorrow. Polygons have great features List of recommended titles. “Ballatoro,” “I Am Your Beast,” and “Stardew Valley” are ridiculously good deals.

  • Looking for console gossip? VGC has good works Latest nintendo switch 2 Speculation includes things like a more powerful dock and the elimination of “stick drift,” which caused many Switch users to lose control of the game.

  • A recent study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that: open world game It can aid relaxation and mental health. According to Neuroscience News“Open-world games, known for their expansive environments and player autonomy, provide a type of cognitive escapism that helps players disconnect from everyday stressors and boost their mood,” the research team reveals. I did that do not have Look at me trying to defeat the Black Blade Marikes in Elden Ring.

What to click

question block

MouseandCrane. Photo: The’s Eyes Games

The following questions from readers are asked regularly, so it’s worth revisiting them.

“What iPad games can you give a 5-year-old?” Are there any that don’t include microtransactions or require a monthly subscription?”

It’s become very difficult to find premium (paid) games on the App Store, especially games for kids. All the funding is in a free-to-play model where there is no cost to download the game, but then there are in-app purchases, ads, or both. But I asked Andy Robertson, founder of Superior Products. Family game database and the author of the book tame the game for his suggestion. “mouse and crane It’s perfect for five-year-olds,” he says. “This is a lovely cooperative puzzle game about three unlikely friends who live in a port and repair machinery. Chuchel is also a great option. It’s a comedy adventure in which you play the hairy hero Chuchel and his rival Kekel as they solve simple puzzles and recover precious cherries.”My sons loved it too. toka hair salon In the game, you can cut and style the hair of different interesting customers.

www.theguardian.com

Renowned AI pioneer Jeffrey Hinton honored as “godfather of AI” – an offer too good to refuse

Posted on by
Reply

WBack in 2011, Marc Andreessen was a venture capitalist with dreams of becoming a public intellectual. published an essay Titled “Why Software is Eating the World,'', he predicted that computer code would take over large swaths of the economy. Now, 13 years later, the software seems to be making its way into academia. In any case, this is one possible conclusion to be drawn from the fact that computer scientist Jeffrey Hinton shares the following about 2024: Nobel Prize in Physics John Hopfield and computer scientist Demis Hassabis share half of it. Nobel Prize in Chemistry With one of my colleagues at DeepMind, John Jumper.

In some ways, Hassabis and Jumper's awards were as expected. Because they built the machine. alpha fold 2 – This will enable researchers to solve one of the most difficult problems in biochemistry: predicting the structure of proteins, the building blocks of biological life. Their machine was able to predict the structure of virtually every 200m protein the researchers identified. So this is a big problem for chemistry.

But Hinton is not a physicist. Indeed, he once Introduced at an academic conference As someone who “failed physics, dropped out of psychology, and then joined a field with absolutely no standards: artificial intelligence.” After graduating, I worked as a carpenter for a year. But he's the guy who found a way to do it (“backpropagationThis allows neural networks to be trained. This was one of the two keys that opened the door to machine learning and sparked the current AI frenzy. (The other is transformer model (published by Google researchers in 2017).

But where's the physics in this? That's from Mr. Hopfield, who shares the award with Mr. Hinton. “Hopfield networks and their further development, called Boltzmann machines, are based on physics,” Hinton explained to the man. new york times. “Hopfield nets used energy functions and Boltzmann machines used ideas from statistical physics. So that stage of the development of neural networks relied heavily on ideas from physics.”

that's ok. But the media often describes Hinton as the “godfather of AI,” which has vaguely sinister overtones. In reality, he is the exact opposite: tall, affable, polite, intelligent, and endowed with an acerbic and sometimes acerbic wit. When I asked Cade Metz how he reacted when he heard the news of the award, he said he was “shocked, surprised, and appalled,” which I think most people would say. But in 2018, he shared the Turing Award, computer science's equivalent of the Nobel Prize, with Joshua Bengio and Yann LeCun for their work in deep learning. So he was always in the top league. It's just that there is no Nobel Prize in computer science. Given the way software is eating up the world, perhaps that should change.

There's an old joke that the key to becoming a Nobel Prize winner is to “outlive” your rivals. Hinton, now 77, clearly took notice. But in fact, what is most admirable about him is his persistence in believing in the potential of neural networks as the key to artificial intelligence, long after the idea had been discredited by the profession. Given the way academia works, it required an extraordinary amount of determination and confidence, especially in a rapidly developing field like computer science. Perhaps what drove him through his dark times was the idea that his great-grandfather was George Boole, the 19th century mathematician who invented the underlying logic. all Of this digital stuff.

We also think about the impact awards have on people. When news of Hinton's award broke, I thought of Seamus Heaney, who won the literary prize in 1995. He described the experience as “like being attacked by something.” generally “A benign avalanche.” Note that I say “almost.” One of the consequences of the Nobel Prize is that the recipient instantly becomes public property, and everyone wants a piece of it. “All I'm doing these days is 'going to work,'” Heaney wrote resignedly to a friend in June 1996. And this situation will continue for weeks and months yet… Whatever the final outcome of the Stockholm effect, its direct result is the desire to quit and start over. with a unique persona (within myself)”

So…note to Jeff: Congratulations. And manage your calendar.

what i was reading

talk like this
Is chatting with a bot a conversation? wonderful new yorker essay Historian Jill Lepore talks about interacting with GPT-4o's Advanced Voice Mode.

Interesting times…
October 2, 2024. this particular problem Heather Cox Richardson's essential Substack blog is a gem.

real page turner
Elite college students who can't read books, interesting report in atlantic ocean Written by Rose Horowich.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Archaeologists say beach and underwater ruins in Sicily offer insights into early immigration

Posted on by
Reply

Sicily is thought to be one of the first islands inhabited by humans during the European Upper Paleolithic period. Research to understand the early occupation of the island has focused primarily on the north coast. An international team of archaeologists led by Washington University in St. Louis is currently searching for signs of human habitation in 25 caves and trenches in southeastern Sicily, Italy.

Coastal and underwater cave sites in southern Sicily contain important new clues about the routes and fate of early human migrants to the island. Image credit: Ilaria Patania.

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, is considered by many scholars to be the oldest permanently inhabited island of human ancestors in the region, but it is unclear when and how these early settlers arrived. It remains unclear whether he accomplished this feat.

Although the island is less than three miles from mainland Italy, it would have been extremely difficult for early humans to cross the ocean.

In the ancient Greek poem The Odyssey, Homer describes Odysseus sailing past the mythical sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis as they crossed the Strait of Sicily.

This strait was well known to ancient sailors. They attributed the terrifying power of its waves and whirlpools to powerful monsters.

In modern times, thousands of migrants from North Africa attempt to cross the Channel each year. Many never make it, and some capsize just a few hundred meters from landing.

“We're not just looking for the first arrivals, we're looking for the first communities,” says Dr. Ilaria Patania, a researcher at Washington University in St. Louis.

“Understanding the timing of Sicily's early colonization provides important data on the patterns and modes of Sicily's early expansion. homo sapiens To the Mediterranean. ”

“This study shows that new ways of thinking and seeing can reveal previously invisible patterns,” added TR Kidder, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

“Previous scholars believed that the ruins on Sicily's southern coast were eroded or too damaged to yield useful information.”

“But discovering underwater ruins opens up a whole new area of ​​research.”

“This allows us to reconsider the migration routes of these earliest modern human ancestors.”

Scholars agree that humans reached Sicily by 16,000 years after the Last Glacial Maximum.

But that date is puzzlingly late, given that humans are known to have dispersed from land to Siberia about 30,000 years ago.

This discrepancy has led some to wonder whether humans actually reached Sicily long before the currently accepted date.

Also, no one yet knows whether humans arrived in Sicily by sea or by foot over a land bridge, or even from what direction.

“The challenge in understanding the spread of early modern human ancestors is that we don't fully understand how they spread and colonized the world so early on,” Professor Kidder said. said.

“Did people come across the Strait of Messina from Italy or from the south along the coast of Africa?”

“Or could they have been island hopping in the Mediterranean? Locating a location on the southern coast helps us consider their route, and therefore their mode of movement.”

“In southeastern Sicily, very few Upper Paleolithic sites have been excavated and analyzed using scientific methods,” Dr. Patania said.

“Although our project is still in its early stages, we have already identified and assessed more than 40 locations of interest, of which around 17 locations have been more accurately relocated based on older identification information. .”

Two of the new sites identified by the research team may contain evidence of Upper Paleolithic human occupation, including fossilized animals.

Coruzzi is located at the southernmost tip of Sicily. This site was originally identified by other researchers in the 1940s.

“This is the location where a second land bridge would have connected this island to Malta,” Dr Patania said.

“When we investigated this site, we found European wild donkey teeth and stone tools.”

“Analysis of the ruins at this site may provide insight into the final leg of the human journey south down Sicily's southernmost coast and towards Malta.”

In the summer of 2024, archaeologists began excavating the second site, a cave called Camporato.

“Here we found evidence of sea level changes caused by the last ice age and local earthquakes. We are still investigating,” Dr. Patania said.

“We reconstruct not only the period of human habitation, but also the environments in which these people lived and how they coped with natural phenomena such as earthquakes, climate and environmental changes, and even volcanic eruptions. I am thinking of doing so.”

of findings appear in the diary PLoS ONE.

_____

I. Patania others. 2024. Between land and sea: an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the early occupation of Sicily (EOS). PLoS ONE 19 (10): e0299118;doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299118

This article is a version of a press release provided by Washington University in St. Louis.

Source: www.sci.news

Incredible Pterosaur Fossils offer insights into their flight capabilities

Posted on by
Reply

Smaller pterosaurs may have flapped their wings, while larger ones may have flown.

Terryl Whitlatch

Despite living hundreds of millions of years apart, pterosaurs may be more similar to modern birds than previously thought: the bone structure of these giant reptiles suggests that the largest used wings to fly, while smaller ones flapped their wings to achieve flight.

The discovery comes from a remarkably well-preserved pterosaur fossil unearthed in Jordan, where the mechanism of flight has left traces in the skeleton. Jeffrey Wilson Mantilla At the University of Michigan.

Pterosaurs began flying about 80 million years before birds and bats. During their 150 million year reign, from the Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous period, they conquered every continent and evolved into a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Some were as small as a sparrow, while others had wingspans the size of a city bus. Analysis of pterosaur bones has revealed that different pterosaurs used different flight tactics to stay airborne.

Wilson-Mantilla and his team compared the fossils of two different pterosaur species and were delighted to discover that the 3D structure of the bones was still intact, which was a surprise because the hollow, brittle bones of pterosaurs would have easily broken down. Computed tomography scans revealed that the bones of the two reptile species were significantly different.

Large pterosaur, Arambrugiana Philadelphiahad spiral ridges running up and down the inside of their bones, similar to modern birds like eagles that fly with their wings fixed. Inabatanin Arabia The bird, a new species to science, had crossed struts that mimicked those of flapping birds.

The helical spiral helps resist twisting forces during ascent, and the crossed footings resist bending forces of the flaps. Wilson Mantilla.

Because the team found the fossils in what was once a coastal area, Mantilla thinks the soaring pterosaurs may have gained altitude by riding updrafts (currents of warm air rising from the ocean surface). He speculates that these pterosaurs could have also flapped their wings specifically to take to the air, making their soaring trait even more unusual.

The reason why one of these pterosaurs appeared to be flapping and the other was soaring raises new questions about how the more than 100 other known pterosaur species flew. Mantilla next wants to examine fossils from around the world to see if this pattern holds true. Perhaps, like modern birds, only the largest individuals of their species were able to soar.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Breakthrough in cancer treatment: Lab-grown stem cells offer new hope

Posted on by
Reply

Stem cells are produced in the bone marrow and develop into different types of blood cells.

Katerina Conn / SPL/ Alamy

Human blood stem cells have been grown in a laboratory for the first time, which could dramatically improve how certain types of cancer are treated.

The lab-grown cells have so far only been tested in mice, but when injected into the animals, they resulted in functional bone marrow similar to levels seen after umbilical cord blood cell transplants.

Treating cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma with radiation and chemotherapy can destroy blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. A stem cell transplant means new healthy bone marrow and blood cells can grow. The umbilical cord is a particularly rich source of stem cells, but there is a limited amount they can provide, and the transplant may be rejected by the body.

The new method allows researchers to create stem cells from actual patients, eliminating supply issues and reducing the risk that the patient's body will reject the stem cells.

First, they transformed human blood and skin cells into so-called pluripotent stem cells through a process called reprogramming. “This involves temporarily switching on four genes, so that the patient's cells revert to an earlier stage of development that can become any cell in the body,” he said. Andrew Elefanti At the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne.

The second step is to turn the pluripotent cells into blood stem cells. “You start by making thousands of tiny, free-floating balls of cells, each containing a few hundred cells, and then you induce them to turn from stem cells to blood vessels to blood cells,” Elefanti says. This process, called differentiation, takes about two weeks and produces millions of blood cells, he says.

When these cells were then injected into mice that lack immune systems, they produced functional bone marrow in up to 50 percent of cases. That means they made the same cells that carry oxygen and fight infection as healthy human bone marrow, Elefanti says. “This unique ability to make all blood cell types over an extended period of time defines them as blood stem cells,” he says.

Abbas Shafi A researcher from the University of Queensland in Brisbane said the work was an “exciting step forward” towards new treatments for blood cancers. “It's never been done before and has great potential for the future.” But even once animal testing is complete, he said a lot of human research still needs to be done before the technique can be used in the clinic.

Simon Cohn Researchers at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, say a key advantage of their approach is that it can be scaled up to produce “an essentially limitless supply” of blood stem cells, but they add that the work is based on blood or skin cells, and success rates and blood cell diversity depend on the starting cell type.

“This suggests that treatments are inconsistent even at the preclinical stage in mice, and will need to be addressed before clinical trials in human patients,” he says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

New GLP-1 medications offer potential for weight loss and improved health

Posted on by
Reply

Exciting developments are on the horizon in the world of obesity medications.

Pharmaceutical companies are racing to create new drugs, building on the success of existing medications like Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovi, as well as Eli Lilly’s Maunjaro and Zepbound.

In addition to targeting diabetes and weight loss, some experimental drugs show promise in improving liver and heart function while reducing common side effects such as muscle loss seen with current treatments. Data on 27 GLP-1 drugs in development will be presented at the 2024 American Diabetes Association meeting in Orlando, Florida.

According to Marlon Pragnell, PhD, the ADA’s vice president of research and science, the pipeline now includes a variety of drug candidates in different stages of development, creating an exciting landscape of innovation.

While most of the data currently available comes from animal studies or early human trials, some drugs may be available in the United States over the counter within a few years, with FDA approval likely further down the line.

As the field of GLP-1 drugs continues to expand, there is hope for more affordable medications with fewer side effects to become available, offering new possibilities for patients.

Exploring Different Hormones for Weight Loss

GLP-1 drugs function by slowing down the digestive process and promoting a sense of fullness. In addition to GLP-1, emerging weight-loss drugs are examining the impact of another hormone called glucagon, which can mimic the effects of exercise.

One such drug, Pemvidutide from Maryland-based Altimmune, combines glucagon with GLP-1 to potentially enhance weight loss effects.

Results from a Phase 2 trial involving obese or overweight adults showed promising weight loss outcomes, paving the way for further research into the drug’s potential benefits.

Altimmune’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Scott Harris, highlighted the drug’s ability not only to aid in weight loss but also to provide additional health benefits for liver and heart function while preserving lean body mass.

Altimmune plans to move forward with Phase 3 trials and aims to introduce the drug in the U.S. by 2028.

Competition and Cost Considerations

Having a variety of weight-loss drugs available can help address shortages and potentially drive down costs over time. The high prices of current medications like Wegobee and Zepbound in the U.S. can pose financial challenges for many patients.

Different patients may respond differently to various treatments, as highlighted by Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford of Harvard Medical School. Having a range of options is crucial to tailor treatments to individual needs.

Stay Informed with the Latest News on Weight Loss Drugs

New developments in the pharmaceutical world present opportunities for improved treatment outcomes and potentially life-changing solutions for patients struggling with obesity.

For individuals like Danielle Griffin, who have not seen the desired results from current medications, the prospect of innovative drugs offers hope and excitement for the future.

Advancements in Metabolic Health

Companies like Eli Lilly are exploring new combinations of hormones to enhance the efficacy of weight-loss drugs. Retatortide, a new injectable medication from Lilly, shows promising results in weight loss and blood sugar control.

Additional studies on drugs like Mazduchid highlight the potential for improved metabolic status and weight loss outcomes, paving the way for new treatment options in the near future.

These ongoing developments underscore the dynamic landscape of obesity treatment, offering hope for a new generation of medications that could revolutionize the field and improve outcomes for patients.

The Future of Obesity Treatment

As research and development in the field of obesity medications continue to advance, there is optimism for more effective, affordable, and patient-friendly treatments to become available in the coming years.

With the potential for improved metabolic health, weight loss outcomes, and reduced side effects, the next wave of obesity treatments holds great promise for individuals struggling with obesity-related health issues.

The ongoing innovation in this field signifies a new era of possibilities in obesity treatment, offering hope for a healthier future for many individuals.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

A fresh perspective on tinnitus and hearing loss may offer potential for their reversal

Posted on by
Reply

Ten years ago, while working as a DJ in Liverpool, England, James Rand would often leave work hearing strange sounds he knew weren't real: high-pitched growls or low-pitched rumblings. . These tinnitus symptoms always went away by the time he woke up… and one day in 2017, they didn't go away.

Doctors confirmed that the sounds were probably caused by Rand's exposure to loud music for hours at a time. There was no cure, no way to get him used to it. “I thought I would never hear silence again,” he says. “He was incredibly depressed.”

But today, the outlook for tinnitus treatment is not so bleak. New research has developed a neurostimulator that reduces the volume of sounds. Additionally, there are several treatments in development that can even stop tinnitus completely. “For the first time, we are discussing potential treatments,” he says. Stéphane Maison at Harvard Medical School.

These insights also shed light on common causes of hearing loss. In fact, they suggest that the same treatments for tinnitus may also restore hearing in people who have become partially deaf due to aging. “The way we think about hearing loss has completely changed,” Maison says.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is one of the most common long-term medical conditions. Affects up to a quarter of older adults. While the crying and rumbling sounds that Rand experiences are common, others may hear whistling, humming, clicking sounds, and even musical hallucinations. Sound can be annoying and distracting, and in some cases can cause depression and anxiety…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Bovine cell-infused rice may offer a sustainable dietary option

Posted on by
Reply

Rice and beef finally come together

Yonsei University

It's the ultimate fusion food. Two key ingredients come together in a lab-created hybrid format for ready-to-eat rice and beef meals.

A number of research groups and companies are developing meat products grown from cells in the laboratory to address issues such as the heavy environmental impact of animal agriculture.

Rather than coaxing animal cells to grow into large structures that replicate the texture of meat (which has proven difficult) Hong Jin-ki Doctors from Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, wanted to create a “new complete food” by fusing rice grains with cultured animal cells.

They first coated the rice grains with fish gelatin so that the cow muscle cells could attach to the rice grains, and then allowed the cells to grow throughout the rice grains for about five to seven days. The rice was then placed in a culture medium to encourage the growth of bovine cells within the grain.

The resulting beef-rice hybrid can be boiled or steamed just like regular rice. Hong said its texture is harder, more brittle and less sticky than regular rice, and it has a nutty taste.

“It's not like beef in the traditional sense, but it offers a new gastronomic experience that combines the familiarity of rice with the richness of meat's flavor,” he says.

Researchers found that hybrid rice contained 7% more protein and 8% more fat than regular rice. Researchers estimate that beef production releases about 50 kilograms of carbon dioxide per 100 grams of protein, compared to about 6 kilograms of carbon dioxide released per 100 grams of protein.

Hong said that unlike other types of cultured meat, all the ingredients used to make beef rice are well-known, cheap and highly nutritious. Additionally, this process does not involve genetic modification.

“These benefits…offer a more sustainable way to produce meat, reduce the environmental footprint associated with traditional livestock farming, and create new food sources that can meet the growing global demand for protein. We provide that,” Hong said.

“Not only is it a great gimmick, but it can also be very useful,” he says. Johannes Le Coutre at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. “The key is whether these products can be scaled up. The challenge is growing meat cells on rice at scale.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Newly Found Fossil Remains in France Offer Valuable Information on Ordovician Polar Ecosystems

Posted on by
Reply

in new paper in diary natural ecology and evolution, paleontologists described the diversity of the Cabrières biota, a new Early Ordovician site in the Montagne Noire in southern France. During the Early Ordovician, this region was an open marine environment located in the southern hemisphere at high polar latitudes, on the margin of the Gondwana supercontinent.

Artistic reconstruction of Cabrière Biota: in the foreground, Unpix (trilobites) and various ostracods including brachiopods and cryoliths (bottom left corner). Behind the trilobites are lobopods, chelicerates, cnidarians (blue), sponges (green), thin branched algae (red and green), hemichordates (purple), and some soft bodies. There are animals. Bivalve arthropods live in the water column along with graptolites. Image credit: Christian McCall, Prehistorya Art.

“Early Paleozoic sites with preserved soft tissues provide a wealth of information about the evolution of past life and improve our understanding of earlier ecosystems, but they are unevenly distributed in time and space. ,” said paleontologist Farid Saleh of the University of Lausanne and his colleagues.

“About 100 soft-tissue preserved assemblages have been recorded from the Cambrian, while about 30 are known from the Ordovician, and only a few have been discovered in early Ordovician rocks. .”

“The distribution of early Paleozoic remains is also paleogeographically biased, as approximately 97% of the biota discovered represents tropical and temperate ecosystems within 65 degrees north and south of the paleoequator.”

“This pattern is especially true for the Ordovician, where very few sites are known to have polar environments.”

“Among the most famous Ordovician sites, Sumchere in South Africa, Big Hill in the United States, and Winneshiek exhibit tropical ecosystems.”

“Given the rarity of Ordovician sites and their lopsided paleogeographical distribution, discovering new biota with preserved soft tissues across the aforementioned paleogeographic zones and environments will deepen our understanding of this period and This is crucial for gaining better insight into the factors driving increases in animal diversity on Earth. ”

Biomineralized species of the Cabriere biota: (a) Trilobites of the genus Unpix(b) gastropods with tubular structures, probably conuraids Sphenothalas(c) biomineralized canine cnidarians; (d) Arthrobrachiopod attached to a spongiosa, probably of the leptomid family. (e) Assemblage formed by an articulated brachiopod (center), a flattened carapace of a probably bivalve arthropod (left and right of center), and the skull of a calimenin trilobite (left). (f) Possibly visceral cyst. Scale bars – (a) and (e) 4 mm, (b) and (d) 1 cm, (c) 5 mm, (f) 2 mm.Image credit: Saleh other., doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02331-w.

In a new paper, paleontologists describe a group of 470-million-year-old (early Ordovician) fossils, named Cabrière Biota, discovered in southern France's Montagne Noire.

The fossil site was discovered by two French amateurs, Eric Montseret and Sylvie Montseret Goujon.

Saleh and his co-authors examined about 400 extremely well-preserved soft tissue fossils taken from the site.

Fossils typically exhibit shades of brown, red, or orange and are embedded within a siliciclastic matrix of mudstone and siltstone, and their colors range from blue to green to yellow.

The Cabriere biota is characterized by a prevalence of sponges and branched algae, which constitute 26% of all identified fossils.

Also included are molluscs (14%), trilobites (12%), brachiopods (9%), cystoliths (7%), and cnidarians (6%).

An interesting feature of this biota is its rarity, with echinoderms being represented by only three specimens.

The Cabrières biota also exhibits the shells of various bivalve arthropods, which constitute 16% of the fossils identified.

Some wormlike organisms are also present in the biota (approximately 1% of identified fossils).

“The Cabrière biota was once located in close proximity to Antarctica and reveals the composition of the southernmost Ordovician ecosystem,” Dr Saleh said.

“The high biodiversity of this site suggests that the area served as a refuge for species fleeing the high temperatures that were prevalent further north at the time.”

“During this period of global warming, animals were certainly living in high-latitude refuges, escaping the extreme temperatures at the equator.”

Dr Jonathan Antcliffe, a paleontologist at the University of Lausanne, said: “The distant past gives us a glimpse of the near future that could happen to us.''

_____

F. Saleh other. Cabrières Biota (France) provides insight into Ordovician polar ecosystems. Nat Ecole Evol, published online on February 9, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02331-w

Source: www.sci.news

Newly Found Anti-Aging Cells Offer Potential for Prolonged Youthfulness

Posted on by
Reply

The ‘fountain of youth’ isn’t locked away in a philosopher’s stone or a mythical body of water, according to new research. In fact, US scientists say the key to slowing aging is hidden within our bodies.

It was announced in new research that: The secret to anti-aging lies in white blood cells known as T cells. The researchers behind the study discovered that these cells can be reprogrammed into senescent cell-killing machines known as CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T cells.

When they tested this treatment on mice, they lost weight, improved their metabolism and glucose tolerance, increased physical activity, and led healthier lives. Moreover, there is no tissue damage or toxicity.

“If you give this to old mice, it rejuvenates them. If you give this to young mice, it slows down the aging process. There are currently no other treatments that can do this.” Corina Amor Vegas is an assistant professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) in the United States and one of the authors of the paper.

Researchers call this treatment a “living drug.” That’s because when CAR T cells are genetically modified, they become more aggressive in attacking a group of cells known as senescent cells.

Senescent cells are responsible for many of the conditions and diseases that develop as we age, such as obesity and diabetes. As the years go by, we accumulate more and more of them, and this causes a buildup of harmful inflammation. However, CAR T cells may be able to eliminate them and slow the effects of aging.

This treatment is already approved in the United States to treat blood cancers. But this is the first time scientists have shown that CAR T cells can slow or even reduce the effects of aging.

There are already drugs that can eliminate senescent cells, but these must be taken repeatedly. The effects of CAR T cells, on the other hand, are long-lasting. If he takes one dose when he is young, he will be protected for life.

“With CAR T cells, you could potentially get away with just one treatment. For chronic diseases, this is a big advantage. Think about the patients who need treatment,” said Amor Vegas. If administered intravenously, it will be fine for several years. ”

Scientists will then investigate whether the cells not only make you healthier for the rest of your life, but also help you live longer.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Apple is reportedly exploring AI partnerships with news publishers and is prepared to offer substantial financial incentives.

Posted on by
Reply

In recent weeks, Apple has begun negotiations with major news and publishing organizations seeking permission to use their material in the development of its generative artificial intelligence systems, as reported by The New York Times on Friday. The iPhone maker is offering a multi-year deal worth at least $50 million to license its news article archives, the report said, citing people familiar with the discussions. Media outlets contacted by Apple include Condé Nast, publisher of Vogue and The New Yorker, NBC News, and IAC, which owns People, The Daily Beast, and Better Homes and Gardens, according to the New York Times. Tim Cook’s Apple is reportedly offering a multi-year deal worth at least $50 million to license its archives of news articles. According to reports, some publishers contacted by Apple were tepid about the proposal. Apple did not respond to Reuters‘ request for comment. Leading technology companies are actively investing in integrating generative AI. Apple, on the other hand, used this technology to improve the basic functionality of its new gadgets. Media outlets contacted by Apple include Condé Nast, Vogue, and The New Yorker. Apple also announced new MacBook Pro and iMac computers and three new chips to power them in October, making chatbots and other creations constrained by the amount of data they can hold in a computer’s memory. It was emphasized that these can be used by many artificial intelligence researchers.

Source: nypost.com