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Emerging Giant Hybrid Pest in Brazil Poses Global Threat to Crops

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Corn Earworm (Helicoverpa zea) Larvae Feeding on Cotton Plants

Debra Ferguson/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group (via Getty Images)

The cotton bollworm and corn earworm, recognized as “giant pests,” are currently wreaking havoc on farmers globally. Recent interbreeding incidents in Brazil have resulted in a hybrid that possesses resistance to various pesticides. If this trend continues unchecked, the hybrid strain may severely impact soybean and other crop yields, jeopardizing global food security.

“This can pose significant challenges,” notes Chris Jiggins from Cambridge University.

Many nations rely on Brazilian soybeans for both human and animal feed—“it essentially feeds the world,” Jiggins remarks.

In Brazil, over 90% of soybeans cultivated are genetically modified (GM) varieties containing built-in pesticides. The emergence of resistant pests could precipitate a decline in yields, leading to heightened food prices. Additionally, increased deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions may occur as farmers seek to clear more land for cultivation.

The corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), a moth native to the Americas, features caterpillars that are highly destructive to a variety of crops, particularly corn. They also pose threats to tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants.

Historically, H. zea has not been a significant issue for soybean farmers in Brazil, as soybeans are not their primary food source. However, the detection of the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) in Brazil in 2013 marked a troubling development. This pest, a close relative of H. zea, has proven to be widely detrimental. Both moth species are categorized as “giant pests” due to their notorious destructiveness and resistance to control measures.

“The concerns are well-founded, given their significant impact,” Jiggins emphasizes. “Moths can travel substantial distances, complicating control efforts.”

H. armigera feeds on multiple plant types, while H. zea primarily reproduces in soybeans, leading to financial strains on Brazilian agriculture with costs totaling billions of dollars, according to Jiggins.

The introduction of Bt soybeans—genetically engineered to produce proteins derived from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis—has alleviated some challenges posed by these pests.

Initial belief held that hybridization between H. armigera and H. zea was implausible. However, genetic analyses from 2018 identified hybrids within the species. Recent genomic studies of around 1,000 moths collected over the past decade have revealed alarming trends.

Analysis indicates that one-third of H. armigera specimens now possess genes conferring resistance to Bt toxins, a concerning development since H. zea strains have evolved comparable resistances after their introduction in North America during the 1990s. This resistance, now spreading to South America, suggests a perilous progression as hybridization occurs. While hybrid H. armigera has not yet produced severe consequences, experts caution that as resistance continues to evolve, the situation may change rapidly.

Gene transfers between species are occurring, and H. zea in Brazil have gained resistance to pyrethroid insecticides. “The speed of this development is astounding,” notes Jiggins.

Angela McGaughran from the University of Waikato asserts that “as global interconnectedness and climate change enable species range expansion, the looming threat of these megapests could amplify on a worldwide scale.”

Farmers are advised to implement non-Bt crop rotations alongside Bt crops to mitigate the spread of resistant pests. However, adherence to these guidelines remains inconsistent across various countries.

Biotech companies are now researching multi-gene Bt strains—producing two, three, or even five different Bt proteins to combat resistance. However, Jiggins insists that the cost and duration of bringing such innovations to market underscore the necessity for sustainable resistance management, including reducing exposure to existing Bt crops.

While hybridization facilitates resistance, Tabashnik highlights that intra-species evolution remains the leading concern. In China, for instance, H. armigera has developed resistance to the original Bt toxin independently.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Coronavirus Poses Greater Heart Disease Risk for Children Than Vaccination

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Vaccination against covid-19 is safer than infection

Juan Monino/Getty Images

Recent findings highlight that vaccinating children is more beneficial than exposing them to the coronavirus. A comprehensive study involving nearly 14 million children revealed that the likelihood of experiencing serious, albeit uncommon, side effects related to the heart and blood vessels was considerably greater following an infection compared to a vaccination.

Specifically, children aged 5 to 18 experienced 17 additional infections per 100,000 with inflammatory conditions such as Kawasaki disease in the six months after contracting SARS-CoV-2, as opposed to other periods. Conversely, among children first vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine, infections per 100,000 dropped by almost two.

Myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle, resulted in over two extra cases per 100,000 individuals in the six months post-infection. In comparison, there was less than one additional case among vaccinated individuals, indicating that the risk of myocarditis is more than double following infection relative to vaccination.

A report highlighting a new coronavirus infection causing myocarditis has been made known. As early as April 2020, reports began surfacing even after vaccinations commenced in December. Vaccines associated with myocarditis tend to present milder symptoms, particularly in young men, and most individuals recover swiftly.

The uncommon side effects of this vaccine have garnered substantial media focus and stirred significant concern, contributing to delays in introducing routine childhood vaccinations in the UK until April 2022.

The latest findings reinforce earlier research indicating that vaccinated children face a lower risk of myocarditis compared to their unvaccinated peers, despite the rarity of this side effect. A majority of children contracted the virus, placing them at an elevated risk of adverse effects.

“It’s important to note that severe complications are highly uncommon among children and adolescents in general,” states Angela Wood from Cambridge, UK, a part of the HDR UK regional network. “Nevertheless, evidence suggests that the risk is generally higher following COVID-19 compared to vaccination.”

Wood’s team evaluated data from the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) encompassing approximately 14 million children under 18 from January 2020 to December 2021. During the latter half of this timeframe, 3.9 million children received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, while 3.4 million were diagnosed with COVID-19 for the first time. Subsequent periods could not be analyzed due to insufficient testing.

This approach does have its limitations. For instance, the data does not indicate whether children who experienced these complications made a full recovery, and many mild COVID-19 cases amongst children may not have been formally recognized. “However, despite these constraints, the scale of the data and the comprehensive connection across all NHS data instills great confidence in our overall conclusions today,” says Wood.

“It’s crucial to understand that findings relevant to the strain of the coronavirus prevalent during the peak of the pandemic may differ for the current strain,” advises William Whiteley from the University of Edinburgh, UK, who was not involved in the study. His team previously reported that COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes for at least six months post-vaccination.

The fact that nearly all individuals, apart from very young children, now possess some level of immunity to COVID-19 means they may respond differently to both booster shots and reinfections, according to team members including Peer Hardelid from University College London. “Ongoing research is essential,” she emphasizes.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Major Direct Action on Actor Image Use in AI Content Poses Fairness Concerns

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The performing arts union Equity has issued a warning of significant direct action against tech and entertainment firms regarding the unauthorized use of its members’ likenesses, images, and voices in AI-generated content.

This alert arises as more members express concerns over copyright violations and the inappropriate use of personal data within AI materials.

General Secretary Paul W. Fleming stated that the union intends to organize mass data requests, compelling companies to reveal whether they have utilized members’ data for AI-generated content without obtaining proper consent.

Recently, the union declared its support for a Scottish actor who alleges that his likeness contributed to the creation of Tilly Norwood, an “AI actor” criticized by the film industry.

Bryony Monroe, 28, from East Renfrewshire, believes her image was used to create a digital character by the AI “talent studio” Xicoia, though Xicoia has denied her claims.

Most complaints received by Equity relate to AI-generated voice replicas.

Mr. Fleming mentioned that the union is already assisting members in making subject access requests against producers and tech firms that fail to provide satisfactory explanations about the sources of data used for AI content creation.

He noted, “Companies are beginning to engage in very aggressive discussions about compensation and usage. The industry must exercise caution, as this is far from over.”

“AI companies must recognize that we will be submitting access requests en masse. They have a legal obligation to respond. If a member reasonably suspects their data is being utilized without permission, we aim to uncover that.”

Fleming expressed hope that this strategy will pressure tech companies and producers resisting transparency to reach an agreement on performers’ rights.

“Our goal is to leverage individual rights to hinder technology companies and producers from binding collective rights,” Fleming explained.

He emphasized that with 50,000 members, a significant number of requests for access would complicate matters for companies unwilling to negotiate.

Under data protection laws, individuals have the right to request all information held about them by an organization, which typically responds within a month.

“This isn’t a perfect solution,” Fleming added. “It’s no simple task since they might source data elsewhere. Many actors are behaving recklessly and unethically.”

Ms. Monroe believes that Norwood not only mimics her image but also her mannerisms.

Monroe remarked, “I have a distinct way of moving my head while acting. I recognized that in the closing seconds of Tilly’s showreel, where she mirrored exactly that. Others observed, ‘That’s your mannerism. That’s your acting style.'”

Liam Budd, director of recorded media industries at Equity UK, confirmed that the union takes Mr. Monroe’s concerns seriously. Particle 6, the AI production company behind Xicoia, claimed it is collaborating with unions to address any concerns raised.

A spokesperson from Particle 6 stated, ‘Bryony Monroe’s likeness, image, voice, and personal data were not utilized in any way to create Tilly Norwood.’

“Tilly was developed entirely from original creative designs. We do not, and will not, use performers’ likenesses without their explicit consent and proper compensation.”

Budd refrained from commenting on Monroe’s allegations but said, “Our members increasingly report specific infringements concerning their image or voice being used without consent to produce content that resembles them.”

“This practice is particularly prevalent in audio, as creating a digital audio replica requires less effort.”

However, Budd acknowledged that Norwood presents a new challenge for the industry, as “we have yet to encounter a fully synthetic actor before.”

Equity UK has been negotiating with UK production industry body Pact (Film and TV Producers Alliance) regarding AI, copyright, and data protection for over a year.

Fleming mentioned, “Executives are not questioning where their data originates. They privately concede that employing AI ethically is nearly impossible, as they are collecting and training on data with dubious provenance.”

“Yet, we frequently discover that it is being utilized entirely outside established copyright and data protection frameworks.”

Max Rumney, deputy chief executive of Pact, highlighted that its members must adopt AI technology in production or risk falling behind companies without collective agreements that ensure fair compensation for actors, writers, and other creators.

However, he noted a lack of transparency from tech firms regarding the content and data used for training the foundational models of AI tools like image generators.

“The fundamental models were trained on our members’ films and programming without their consent,” Rumney stated.

“Our members favor genuine human creativity in their films and shows, valuing this aspect as the hallmark of British productions, making them unique and innovative.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Florida’s Anti-Vaccine Movement Poses Threats to Public Health Nationwide

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General Joseph Ladapo, Florida surgeon, at an anti-vaccine event held in Sarasota, Florida

Dave Decker/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock

The movement against vaccines has gained significant traction in the US, prompting Florida officials to repeal all vaccine mandates, including those for schoolchildren. This decision may inspire similar actions in other states, potentially leading to a resurgence of long-eradicated pediatric diseases.

“If I were a virus, I would celebrate right now,” stated Cynthia Leifer from Cornell University in New York. “The potential elimination of all vaccine mandates in Florida could allow diseases that have been controlled for years to rear their heads again.”

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the anti-vaccine movement has solidified its presence in the United States, with Florida being a prime example. In 2022, it was the first state to recommend Covid-19 mRNA vaccinations for most children, later expanding that guidance to include all individuals. Now, it might become the first state to entirely abolish vaccine mandates.

The announcement came from Joseph Ladapo, the state’s chief public health officer, on September 3. “This last mandate is fundamentally flawed,” he stated.

Like all states, Florida mandates certain vaccinations for children before they can enroll in school. However, under the authority of the Florida Department of Health led by Ladapo, there is considerable power to delegate vaccine requirements in schools. Ultimately, only state lawmakers can lift all vaccine requirements.

In a statement reported by the Associated Press, the state health department indicated that changes to existing regulations could impact required vaccines, including those for hepatitis B, chickenpox, influenza, HIB, and pneumococcal disease. Unless legislators revoke the laws, vaccines such as polio and measles will remain mandatory for school attendance under state law.

Vaccine requirements are a key factor in the US maintaining one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, which is crucial for preventing diseases like polio, diphtheria, and pertussis from becoming prevalent. Removing these mandates could jeopardize decades of public health achievements and put lives at risk. According to a 2024 CDC report, routine childhood vaccinations have saved approximately 1.13 million lives and averted about 508 million infections in children born from 1994 to 2023.

“Vaccines are victims of their own success; people no longer witness children suffering from preventable diseases,” Leifer remarked.

Much of the resistance against vaccines stems from concerns regarding side effects. However, research shows that the risks associated with vaccination are minor compared to those posed by infections. For instance, the likelihood of developing myocarditis or heart inflammation is seven times higher following Covid-19 infection than after vaccination. Additionally, one in 1000 individuals infected with measles may develop encephalitis, while one in one million vaccinated individuals experience the same condition.

During the press conference, Ladapo provided no scientific rationale for removing the vaccine mandates. The Florida Department of Public Health did not respond to inquiries from New Scientist regarding this matter, instead focusing on appeals to personal and religious freedoms.

“Should this individual dictate what goes into your body? Who decides what your child should receive in their body?” he questioned, emphasizing that each body is a gift from God.

This argument overlooks that over half the states, including Florida, permit exemptions from mandated vaccines for religious reasons. Furthermore, 16 states allow exemptions for personal beliefs, and all states have provisions for medical exemptions.

If school mandates are lifted, it is uncertain how significantly vaccination rates might drop. However, historical data suggests that enforcing requirements boosts vaccine uptake. For example, Maine eliminated personal and religious exemptions in 2019, resulting in over 95% of school-aged children receiving the vaccinations required by 2024, thus achieving herd immunity against measles.

In Florida, less than 89% of kindergarteners were vaccinated from 2024 to 2025. Achieving herd immunity requires a concerted effort to boost vaccination rates nationwide, rather than undermining them.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

UK Online Safety Law Poses a Threat to Free Speech and Internet Safety

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Elon Musk’s platform, X, has warned that the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) may “seriously infringe” on free speech due to its measures aimed at shielding children from harmful content.

The social media company noted that the law’s ostensibly protective aims are marred by the aggressive enforcement tactics of Communications Watchdog Ofcom.

In a statement shared on its platform, X remarked: “Many individuals are worried that initiatives designed to safeguard children could lead to significant violations of their freedom of expression.”

It further stated that the UK government was likely aware of the risks, having made “conscious decisions” to enhance censorship under the guise of “online safety.”

“It is reasonable to question if British citizens are also aware of the trade-offs being made,” the statement added.

The law, a point of contention politically on both sides of the Atlantic, is facing renewed scrutiny following the implementation of new restrictions on July 25th regarding access to pornography for those under 18 and content deemed harmful to minors.

Musk, who owns X, labeled the law as an “oppression of people” shortly after the enactment of the new rules. He also retweeted a petition advocating for the repeal of the law, which has garnered over 450,000 signatures.

X found itself compelled to establish age restrictions for certain content. In response, the Reformed British Party joined the outcry, pledging to abolish the act. This commitment led British technology secretary Peter Kyle to accuse Nigel Farage of aligning himself with pedophile Jimmy Saville, prompting Farage to describe the comments as “under the belt” and deserving of an apology.

Regarding Ofcom, X claimed that the regulators are employing “heavy-handed” tactics in implementing the act, characterized by “a rapid increase in enforcement resources” and “additional layers of bureaucratic surveillance.”

The statement warned: “The commendable intentions of this law risk being overshadowed by the expansiveness of its regulatory scope. A more balanced and collaborative approach is essential to prevent undermining free speech.”

While X aims to comply with the law, the threat of enforcement and penalties—potentially reaching 10% of global sales for social media platforms like X—could lead to increased censorship of legitimate content to avoid repercussions.

The statement also referred to plans for a National Internet Intelligence Research Team intended to monitor social media for indications of anti-migrant sentiments. While X suggested the proposal could be framed as a safety measure, it asserted that it “clearly extends far beyond that intention.”

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“This development has raised alarms among free speech advocates, who characterize it as excessively restrictive. A balanced approach is essential for safeguarding individual freedoms, fostering innovation, and protecting children.”

A representative from Ofcom stated that the OSA includes provisions to uphold free speech.

They asserted: “Technology companies must address criminal content and ensure children do not access defined types of harmful material without needing to restrict legal content for adult users.”

The UK Department of Science, Innovation and Technology has been approached for comment.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Declining Snowcover in Forests Poses a Threat to Carbon Storage

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Forests similar to Vermont’s Mansfield State Forest are experiencing snow loss

Douglas Rissing/Getty Images

Many forests are losing their winter snowpacks due to rising global temperatures, which can significantly hinder growth and diminish the capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Current predictions suggest that these expectations may overestimate future carbon storage, as they fail to account for the complexities linked to winter climate shifts, according to Emerson Conrad Rooney from Boston University, Massachusetts.

Rising temperatures generally promote growth in temperate forests by enhancing decomposition and nutrient availability during warmer seasons. However, the model primarily overlooks winter changes, especially snow loss.

“The diminishing deep and insulating snowpacks cannot merely be seen as a minor change,” says Elizabeth Burakowski at the University of New Hampshire. Her findings indicate that such changes impact water storage and the health of ecosystems, warning that deep snow days could vanish from much of the U.S. by century’s end.

To better understand these cold-weather impacts, Conrad Rooney and his team modeled the effects of a 5°C increase in global temperatures on the growth of red maple trees (Acer rubrum) in a New Hampshire experimental forest. Some plots were treated with buried cables to warm the soil during the growing season, while others had their snow removed in winter, which warmed the soil and created conditions for freeze-thaw cycles.

Over a decade, trees in both scenarios exhibited more growth than those left undisturbed. However, the areas devoid of snow experienced a significant reduction in growth, halving their typical increase. Researchers attribute this disparity to root damage from exposing the soil to temperature fluctuations without snow cover.

“Snow acts as an insulating blanket, keeping the soil from freezing,” explains Conrad Rooney. “Less snow means an increase in freeze-thaw cycles.”

When researchers projected similar outcomes for northeastern U.S. forests, they estimated an anticipated loss of snowpacks by the century’s end could result in a decrease in carbon storage by about one million tons annually, in contrast to models that do not incorporate the implications of snow loss.

“The fluctuating presence of snow throughout winter undermines the stable soil conditions essential for the long-term carbon storage needed by northeastern ecosystems,” states Burakowski.

However, it’s important to note that not all snowy forests react similarly to snow loss as the deciduous trees found in the Northeast. David Bowling from the University of Utah emphasizes the necessity for accurate modeling of different ecological responses, noting, “There are many changes occurring.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Amazon CEO Warns Staff: AI Poses Job Risks in Coming Years

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The CEO of Amazon informed the company’s office workers that opportunities in artificial intelligence will be available in the upcoming years.

Andrew Jassy advised his team that AI agents—tools designed to perform tasks autonomously—will lead to a reduction in workforce in specific AI areas, including chatbots.

“As we integrate more generative AI and agents, our work dynamics will transform,” he mentioned in a note to the team. “There will be fewer individuals in some existing roles, while others will shift to different types of work.

“It’s hard to predict the exact trajectory of this change, but we anticipate a decrease in our overall workforce in the coming years.”

Amazon currently employs 1.5 million individuals globally, with around 350,000 in corporate positions such as software engineering and marketing.

Recently, the CEO of BT, a UK telecommunications firm, stated that advancements in AI might lead to deeper job cuts in their company. Conversely, Dario Amodei, CEO of AI research firm Anthropic, noted that AI could potentially eliminate half of all entry-level office jobs.

Jassy projected that billions of AI agents will become integral to the everyday operations of companies and individuals alike soon.

“These AI agents will be present in virtually every company and industry. From shopping to handling daily tasks, many of these agents will assist in various aspects of life outside of work. Although not all of these agents have been developed yet, there is no doubt about their future impact.”

Jassy concluded his message by urging employees to engage with AI, emphasizing the importance of self-education and participating in training programs.

“Those who adapt to this change and familiarize themselves with AI—by developing and enhancing AI capabilities internally and delivering them to our customers—will play a crucial role in redefining the company,” he asserted.

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The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an influential international policy body, estimates that this technology could lead to job losses among skilled white-collar professionals in fields like law, medicine, and finance. According to the International Monetary Fund, 60% of jobs in advanced economies such as the US and the UK could be vulnerable to AI, with half at risk of being adversely affected.

On the other hand, the Tony Blair Institute advocates for broader AI adoption across public and private sectors, suggesting that while the private sector could see job reductions of up to 3 million in the UK, net losses will be counterbalanced by the creation of new positions thanks to technological advancements.

Source: www.theguardian.com

London AI Firm Claims Getty’s Copyright Case Poses a Clear Risk to the Industry

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The London-based firm Stability AI, specializing in artificial intelligence, argues that the copyright lawsuit initiated by global photography agency Getty Images poses a significant “obvious threat” to the AI generation industry.

Stability AI contested Getty’s claims in the London High Court on Monday, which center on issues of copyright and trademark infringement regarding its extensive collection of photographic works.

Stability enables users to create images based on text prompts. Among its directors is James Cameron, the acclaimed director of Avatar and Titanic. In response, Getty criticized those training AI systems as “tech nerds,” suggesting they disregard the ramifications of their technological advancements.

Stability retorted by asserting that Getty is pursuing a “fantasy” legal path, investing around £10 million to challenge a technology it views as an “existential threat” to their operations.


Getty syndicates around 50,000 photographers’ work to clients across more than 200 countries. It alleges that Stability trained its image generation models using an extensive database of copyrighted photographs. Consequently, a program named Stability Diffusion continues to produce images bearing watermarks from Getty Images. Getty maintains that Stability is “completely indifferent” to the sources of their training data, asserting that the system “is associated with pornography-related trademarks” and generates “AI garbage.”

Getty’s legal representatives noted that the contention over the unauthorized utilization of thousands of photographs, including well-known images of celebrities, politicians, and news events, “is not a conflict between creativity and technology where a victory for Getty Images spells the end for AI.”

They further stated: “The issue arises when AI companies like Stability wish to use these materials without compensation.”

Lindsay Lane KC, representing Getty Images, commented, “These were a group of tech enthusiasts enthusiastic about AI, yet indifferent to the challenges and dangers it poses.”

In her court filing on Monday, Getty contended that Stability had trained an image generation model using a database that included child sexual abuse material.

Stability is contesting Getty’s claims overall, with its attorney characterizing the allegations regarding child sexual abuse material as “abhorrent.”

A spokesperson for Stability AI stated that the company is dedicated to ensuring its technology is not misused. It emphasized the implementation of strong safeguards “to enhance safety standards and protect against malicious actors.”

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This situation arises in the context of a broader movement among artists, writers, and musicians—including figures like Elton John and Dua Lipa—who are advocating for copyright protection against alleged infringement by AI-generated content that allows users to produce new images, music, and text.

The UK Parliament is embroiled in a related issue, with the government proposing that copyright holders should have the option to opt-out of the material used for training algorithms and generating AI content.

“Of course, Getty Images acknowledges that the entire AI sector can be a formidable force, but that does not justify permitting the AI models they are developing to blatantly infringe on their intellectual property rights,” Lane stated.

The trial is expected to span several weeks and will address, in part, the use of images by renowned photographers. This includes a photograph of former Liverpool soccer manager Jürgen Klopp, captured by award-winning British sports photographer Andrew Livesey, a photo of the Chicago Cubs baseball team by American sports photographer Gregory Shams, and images of actor and musician Donald Glover by Alberto Rodriguez, as well as photographs of actor Eric Dane and film director Christopher Nolan.

The case brings forth 78,000 pages of evidence, with AI experts summoned to testify from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Freiberg in Germany.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The authenticity of “Wool Mammoth Mouse” poses a significant ethical dilemma

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Colossal Biosciences, a US biotech startup, has announced the birth of what is called the “wool mouse.”

The company says gorgeous hair rodents are living evidence that their mission to restore wool mammoths from extinction within a few years is progressing.

To make mice, scientists have introduced eight simultaneous editing into the genome of experimental mice using modern genetic techniques. These include the addition of genes that make fur grow up to three times longer than usual, as well as other genes that make hair wavy and golden.

Other editing targets target genes associated with fat metabolism, which are thought to help increase mammoth size.

Mice are the result of years of hard work by scientists to reconstruct important parts of the mammoth genome. The last wool mammoth is believed to have died about 3,000 years ago, and scientists are stitching together mammoth DNA, which has been decomposed from relics that range from 35 to 1.2 million years ago.

This is the first time that some of the important genes identified throughout the study have been expressed in living animals.

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Mammoth 2.0

Colossal's ambitious long-term plan is to add many of these mammoth genes to modern elephant embryos to create a mammoth-like hybrid.

Despite claiming to be revived wool mammoth, the original Mammuthus Primigeniuswith all the original genetic complexity and population diversity, it has not been brought back to life. Creatures are more accurately referred to as “cold-resistant elephants.”

Scientists designed a “wool mouse” with the mammoth gene, giving it a very long, wavy golden fur. – Photo Credit: Colossal Biosciences

The Mammoth's return was repeated by various groups and dates back to 2011. The group is generally privately funded, and the exact details of their work are rather opaque.

However, these lifestyle, breathing, and rather cute wool mice show that scientists have made impressive advances in reconstructing some of the key genes that have made mammoths unique. Colossal's Chief Scientist Dr. Beth Shapiro The mouse says it is a “critical step in examining an approach to revive the properties lost to extinction.”

A huge task

There's still a lot to do before you see mammoth-like creatures crossing the tundra or walking through the zoo.

Initially, it is much easier to create gene-edited mice than elephants. Mice have been a staple of genetic experiments for decades and can be quickly raised in a huge number.

Elephants, on the other hand, are rarely used in laboratory experiments, and live mammals happen to have longer gestation periods of over 18 months.

Colossal has made impressive advances by manipulating elephant cells into stem cells.

However, even if Colossal could create a viable elephant mammoth embryo, it would not be able to be used as a large number of surrogates, if any, because both Asian and African elephants are at risk of extinction.

This means that Colossal must develop its own artificial uterus to develop experimental embryos until birth. This has never been done before. Such a system should not only replicate all the complexity of the placenta, but also support calves that are as heavy as Asian elephant calves, exceeding at least 100 kg (220 lbs).

https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2025/03/Colossal-mammoth-mice-clip.mp4
Two “wool mice” created by scientists

But perhaps the biggest question remaining is simply, why? Colossal says other similar tasks to revive mammoths and revive dodos and tylacine will lead to biotechnology that will help save other species from environmental changes.

The company claims to stimulate interest and investment so that they can't do anything else, starting with these iconic extinct creatures.

Certainly, the project has attracted a lot of media attention and has attracted more than $200 million (£157 million) of investments that probably wouldn't have made it to a traditional conservation project.

And there are already examples of the technology being used to support species facing extinction today. For example, in Australia, gene editing is used to provide resistance to the poison of cane toads, an invasive species that kill many animals in the region (adorable, endangered marsupials).

In the US, scientists used similar biotechnology to increase the genetic diversity of ferrets with black feet, but it had dipped to a population size that was essentially involved.

More broadly, Colossal's research could help scientists produce eggs, sperm and embryos of a variety of endangered species, including Asian and African elephants, which help to increase numbers.

We can ask questions

But do these lofty ambitions justify? Jurassic Park– Blatant use of genetic engineering? Many people are particularly intelligent social animals like elephants, and feel uneasy about corrections, not to mention a complete overhaul of the genome.

And what is the life of the first artificial wool elephant like? Where do they live and are they introduced to herds and families?

Are they healthy or tired of genetic problems? And shouldn't we focus our efforts on saving habitats and ecosystems, not individual species?

Giant wool mouse showing the properties of an extinct wool mammoth – Photo credit: Giant bioscience

In recent years, genetic engineering has gained greater acceptance among the public, and is generally considered an important way to produce new drugs and disease-resistant crops.

Does the creation of a large, shaggy elephant make people feel that biotechnology is going too far? Or, as a huge hope, will it serve as an inspiring symbol of how technology can save thousands of species that are at risk of extinction each year?

This is a question that biologists, ethicists and biotechnology regulators need to carefully consider the work of scaling up from mice to mammoths.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

H5N1 bird flu poses a greater pandemic risk than anticipated

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Highly contagious avian influenza has been circulating around the world since 2020.

Ulises Ruiz/AFP via Getty Images

The H5N1 avian influenza virus that is circulating around the world is already more contagious than earlier strains. In addition, the single mutation allows it to infect cells lining the nose and throat, making it more likely to be transmitted through the air.

This change alone is not enough for the virus to cause a pandemic. But if a virus with this mutation swapped genes with a human influenza virus, it could acquire pandemic potential almost immediately.

“The more people are infected, the more likely this is to happen,” he says. Ian Wilson At the Scripps Research Institute in California. Despite this, Wilson believes the risk remains low.

A particularly virulent strain of avian influenza, H5N1, originated in the 1990s, probably in domestic birds in China, and spread around the world. Around 2020, a new variant of the virus emerged and spread even more widely, reaching as far as the Americas and Antarctica. In the United States, poultry is infected in large numbers, dairy cattle are also infected, and occasionally humans are infected.

team led by Debbie Van Riel Researchers at Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands infected cells in human noses and throats with the 2005 and 2022 H5N1 variants. They showed for the first time that the 2022 mutant is better at binding to these cells and replicating within them. . “Bad news,” van Riel says.

“I don’t think it’s extremely likely that the virus will become a pandemic,” she says. However, the fact that this virus is better at infecting humans gives it more opportunity to acquire further mutations, increasing the likelihood of a pandemic.

Meanwhile, Wilson and his colleagues have been studying the key hemagglutinin protein of the influenza virus. This protein binds to receptors on the outside of cells and determines which cells the virus can infect. Because it sticks out from the virus, it is also the main target of the immune system.

Currently, H5N1 hemagglutinin primarily binds to receptors located deep in the lungs in humans. This means that although it can cause serious illness, it is unlikely to leave the body and infect others. For that to happen, the virus needs to infect the cells inside your nose and throat. This means that coughing and sneezing can expel the virus and infect others.

Van Riel's research suggests that the virus can do this to some extent, but it is not clear whether the virus binds to the main receptors on these cells. It was thought that multiple mutations were required for H5N1 to bind strongly to these receptors, but Wilson's team now shows that a single mutation is sufficient for the current H5N1 variants. Showed.

Team members say this change alone won’t prevent the virus from causing a pandemic. Jim Paulsonalso at the Scripps Research Institute. “We think this property is necessary, but importantly not sufficient, for pandemic virus transmission,” he says.

Paulson said other changes are also necessary for the virus to begin replicating and spreading from person to person, but they are not well understood. “There's a lot of biology we don’t know,” he says.

However, if H5N1 viruses that infect humans acquire receptor switching mutations, they may evolve these other changes as well.

Furthermore, it is possible, in theory, to acquire all the necessary abilities at once by exchanging genes with a human virus that infects the same individual. Several previous influenza pandemics have been caused by genetic swapping between animal and human influenza viruses, Paulson said.

“This is very worrying,” he says alice katsurakis from the University of Oxford was not involved in either study. “Every time it spreads to humans, it gives the virus a roll of the dice.”

What is the mortality rate of the H5N1 pandemic?

If H5N1 avian influenza begins to spread from person to person, the big question is how deadly it will be. Half of the people confirmed to have contracted the virus since 2003 have died. However, the actual infection fatality rate is likely to be even lower, as many cases likely go undetected and mild cases are likely to be missed.

Of the roughly 60 people infected in the U.S. since the dairy outbreak began, nearly all have had only mild symptoms. why not understoodbut one explanation is that many were infected through the eyes. “It’s known to have much more benign results,” Katzorakis says.

It is also thought to become less dangerous when the virus switches from binding to receptors deep in the lungs to binding to receptors in the upper airways. But puzzling aspects of the U.S. cases left Paulson unsure whether this also applied to H5N1. “To be honest, I don’t know what to think right now,” he says.

“I don’t think there’s any reason to be satisfied with this and expect that even if this virus were to be easily transmitted from person to person, it would be ‘mild,'” Katzourakis said.

Because Wilson’s team studied the hemagglutinin protein alone, there was no chance that the mutated protein could leak into the lab. “No viruses were used here at all,” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Not undergoing traditional cancer therapy, such as that of Elle Macpherson, poses significant risks

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Supermodel Elle Macpherson refuses chemotherapy to treat breast cancer

Australian Press Agency/Alamy

Half of us will develop cancer at some point in our lives, but how many of us can confidently reject mainstream medical advice after consulting dozens of doctors?

In a recent interview Australian Women's Weekly Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson revealed that she did just that, telling the magazine that she was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago but refused chemotherapy, opting for an “intuitive, heart-led, holistic approach” to her treatment.

According to the magazine, MacPherson mulled over her decision for weeks after consulting with “32 doctors and specialists,” and finally, in February 2017, she decided to pursue non-pharmaceutical treatment under the guidance of her family doctor, who specializes in “integrative medicine.”

Fortunately, MacPherson is currently in clinical remission, or as she prefers to say, “perfect health.” It's futile to try to assess the risk of her decision to forego chemotherapy without knowing important details about the extent of her cancer, her coexisting risk factors, and the advice she received. For example, she underwent a partial mastectomy, her first surgery to remove a suspicious lump, but Some doctors said That might have been enough treatment.

Nevertheless, the story has sparked outrage online, galvanizing both the growing number of people who distrust “conventional medicine” and those who seek to defend it from growing attacks.

What's behind this distrust? Some researchers say the COVID-19 pandemic “Scientific skepticism” Heated debates are taking place around the world about the severity of the illness, the merits of lockdowns, and the safety of vaccines. More and more Used To hide their anti-scientific views, Conspiracy thinking.

For members of black and minority ethnic communities, Distrust of doctors The reluctance to seek cancer testing and treatment is also being driven by public health and medical institutions. Decades of failure Engaging with them and ensuring equal care in many countries.

In the UK in particular, confidence in the National Health Service's ability to treat cancer has declined. Has fallen in recent yearsand Reports Delaying the start of vital cancer treatment for months.

All of this means that if you're diagnosed with cancer today, your options may seem less clear than they once were. Add to that the typically grueling experience of chemotherapy, and it's no wonder that MacPherson's story of a “non-pharmaceutical” alternative therapy has garnered so much attention.

But it's worth keeping in mind that MacPherson doesn't accurately represent the vast majority of cancer patients. Estimated Net Worth With a net worth of $95 million, she can afford to seek multiple second opinions and even turn down chemotherapy. Her wealth acts as a safety net. Her “ingestible health” company WELCOand her historical romantic ties Disgraced anti-vaxxer Andrew Wakefield,she From 2018 to 2019McPherson's story gets even more complicated.

For most people, refusing medical care carries real risks. 2017 Study Cancer patients who choose alternative medicines as their primary treatment have been found to have a higher risk of dying within five years than those who choose conventional treatments.

Larger studies The following year, he published a study of nearly two million American cancer patients that found that use of complementary medicines was associated with refusal of conventional cancer treatment and a doubling of the risk of death within five years.

Indeed, oncologists More and more Select Use Reduce chemotherapy or avoid it altogether – New treatments, new research The recognition that targeted, customized responses are most effective.

But for now, at least, the advice from organisations like Cancer Research UK is clear: there is no scientific or medical evidence that alternative therapies can cure cancer. At a time when distrust of medicine is widespread, Macpherson's account risks leading people down a dangerous path by trumpeting positive results without important context.

While anyone may be at risk for developing cancer, Macpherson, who was nicknamed “The Body” at the height of her modeling career, had enormous resources at her disposal and was always going to have a better chance than most of us of surviving cancer, regardless of her choices.

Elle Hunt is a freelance writer and journalist.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Report shows pollution in Seine River still poses danger to Olympic athletes

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With just over a month until the Olympics begin, pollution levels in Paris’ River Seine remain too dangerous for Olympic athletes to compete, according to a city monitoring report.

of Report finds elevated levels of E. coli Routine samples taken at several points along the Seine between June 10 and 16 contained toxins that are indicators of fecal matter.

During the Olympics, Paris plans to have athletes compete on the Seine River. Marathon swimming and Triathlon EventThe first event, the men’s triathlon, is scheduled for July 30th. According to the Associated Press.

To make this possible, Paris has spent about $1.5 billion cleaning up the city’s aging sewer system, which drains water into the river during heavy rains. But a new report suggests those efforts may not have been enough.

The International Olympic Committee and Paris 2024, the local organizing body in Paris, did not immediately respond to inquiries from NBC News.

Last year, test events for triathlon and marathon swimming were held on the Seine. Designed to ensure the Olympic Games run smoothly — The service was halted in August after the river failed pollution tests.

Weather can play a big role in the Seine’s pollution: Unusual rainfall in May and rainy days last week caused a significant drop in water quality, according to a new report, along with a lack of sunny days and periods of low water flow, which help reduce bacteria.

“The sun inactivates bacteria,” says Helena Solo-Gabriel, a professor in the University of Miami’s Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering.

Solo-Gabriele added that if fecal matter in the water where athletes swim exceeds safety standards, it could cause gastrointestinal illness.

The situation on the Seine has been monitored for several months. Non-profit organization Surfrider Foundation Europe It released its own results from six months of testing and found that nearly all samples failed to meet acceptable levels of E. coli and enterococcus, two types of bacteria that scientists typically test for in fecal samples.

“High bacteria counts mean there’s too much waste in the water, and waste carries bacteria that can make people sick,” says Daniel Nyzgorski, an ecologist who monitors water quality in King County, Washington.

But he added that many people don’t realize that most strains of E. coli are harmless, and studies show that swimming-related illnesses rarely result in hospitalization.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and French President Emmanuel Macron have promised to swim in the Seine to prove its water is clean, but have yet to do so.

Paris is not the first city to face a bacterial problem during the Olympics. AP analysis Levels of viruses and bacteria from fecal contamination at Olympic venues in Rio de Janeiro were found to be 1.7 million times higher than levels considered safe on some U.S. beaches. Brazilian government and IOC officials acknowledged that the water was contaminated but said the sites where athletes were competing met World Health Organization standards. According to the New York Times:.

“There’s a lot of polluted water out there. It’s a problem wherever there’s urbanization and the environment doesn’t have the natural flow that dilutes the bacteria,” Solo-Gabriel said.

Experts said the Olympics bring particular attention to these challenges every four years.

“Hopefully this case will bring attention to the problem of river pollution that we need to address not just for Olympic athletes, but for everyday people,” said Karen Levy, a professor at the University of Washington’s School of Environmental and Occupational Health.

NBC News is a unit of NBCUniversal, which owns U.S. media rights to the Olympics through 2032, including the 2024 Paris Games, which begin July 26.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Signal’s Meredith Whitaker discusses how encryption poses a significant challenge to authority

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Meredith Whittaker practices what she preaches: As president of the Signal Foundation, she’s a vocal advocate for privacy for all. But she doesn’t just spout empty words.

In 2018, she came to the public’s attention as one of the organizers of the Google walkouts, mobilizing 20,000 employees at the search giant in a dual protest against state-sponsored surveillance and sexual misconduct misconduct.

Whitaker remains passionate about privacy after five years in the public eye, including as a congressional testifier, a university professor, and an adviser to federal agencies.

For example, it’s not uncommon for business leaders to politely respond when asked about salary on the resumes accompanying these interviews. Flat-out refusal to answer questions about age or family is less common. “As a privacy advocate, Whitaker won’t answer personal questions that could lead to guessing passwords or bank authentication ‘secret answers,'” a staffer told me after the interview. “And she encourages others to do the same!”

When she left Google, Whitaker issued a memo to the company announcing her commitment to the ethical adoption of artificial intelligence and to organizing for a “responsible tech industry.” “It’s clear to me that Google is not the place for me to continue doing this work,” she said. That clarity and refusal to compromise sent a signal.

The Signal Foundation was founded in 2017 with $50 million in funding from WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton, and its mission is to “protect freedom of expression and enable secure global communications through open source privacy technology.”

The company took over development of messaging app Signal in 2018, and Whitaker took on the newly created role of president in 2022. The timing was just right to start defending Signal, and encryption in general, against a wave of attacks from nation states and corporations around the world.

While laws such as the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) and the EU’s Child Sexual Abuse Regulation contain language that can be used to block or decrypt private communications, Meta’s proposal to introduce end-to-end encryption on Facebook and Instagram drew strong backlash from politicians such as Priti Patel, who, as UK Home Secretary, called the plans “devastating”.

Whitaker said these attacks are not new. Observer “Going back to 1976, [Whitfield] Diffie and [Martin] Hellman was about to publish a paper introducing public key cryptography, a technology that would allow encrypted communication over the Internet, and intelligence agencies were trying to stop him.

“Throughout the ’80s, the N.S.A. [US National Security Agency] So GCHQ lost its monopoly on encryption and by the ’90s it was all governed under military treaties. This was the ‘code wars’. You couldn’t mail code to someone in Europe, it was considered a munitions export.”

But the larger push towards commercializing the internet forced a degree of softening: “It allowed transactions to be encrypted, allowing big companies to choose exactly what to encrypt. At the same time, the Clinton administration endorsed surveillance advertising as a business model, creating incentives to collect data on customers in order to sell it to them.”

Surveillance, she says, has been a “disease” since the dawn of the internet, and encryption poses “a serious threat to the type of power that shapes itself through these information asymmetries.” In other words, she doesn’t see the fight ending anytime soon: “I don’t think these arguments are honest. There are deeper tensions here, because in the 20 years since this metastatic tech industry developed, we’ve seen every aspect of our lives subject to mass surveillance by a small number of companies that, in partnership with the US government and other ‘Five Eyes’ agencies, collect more surveillance data than any organization in the history of humanity has ever had.”

“So if we continue to defend these little pockets of privacy and don’t eventually expand them, and we have to fight back a little bit to get a little bit more space, I think we’re going to have a much darker future than if we defended our position and were able to expand the space for privacy and free communication.”

Criticisms of encrypted communications are as old as the technology itself: allowing everyone to talk without nation states being able to eavesdrop on the conversation is a godsend for criminals, terrorists, and pedophiles around the world.

But Whittaker argues that some of Signal’s strongest critics seem inconsistent about what they care about: “If they are really interested in helping children, why are Britain’s schools collapsing? Why have social services been funded with just 7% of the amount proposed to fully fund agencies on the front line of preventing abuse?”

Sometimes the criticism is unexpected. Signal was recently drawn into the US culture wars after a right-wing campaign to unseat National Public Radio’s new CEO, Katherine Maher, was expanded to include Signal, where Maher serves as a director, after failing. Elon Musk joined in, and the Signal app… He once promoted it In response to claims that the app was “potentially compromised,” the company noted that the app had “known vulnerabilities.”

Whitaker said the allegations are “a weapon in the propaganda war to spread disinformation. We are seeing similar disinformation related to the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine that appears to be designed to move people away from Signal. We believe these campaigns are designed to direct people to less secure alternatives that are more susceptible to hacking and interception.”

The same technology that has drawn criticism for the foundation is also popular among governments and militaries around the world who need to protect their communications from the prying eyes of nation-state hackers and others.

Whittaker sees this as a leveller: Signal is for everyone.

“Signal is either for everyone or it’s for no one. Every military in the world uses Signal, every politician I know uses Signal, every CEO I know uses Signal, because anybody who has to do really sensitive communication knows that storing it in plaintext in a Meta database or on a Google server is not a good practice.”

Whittaker’s vision is singular and not one to be distracted: Despite her interest in AI, she is cautious about combining it with Signal and has been critical of apps like Meta’s WhatsApp that have introduced AI-enabled features.

“I’m really proud that we don’t have an AI strategy. We have to look at ourselves and say, where is the data coming from to train our models, where is the input data coming from? How do we have an AI strategy when our focus is on protecting privacy, not surveilling people?”

Whatever the future holds in terms of technology and political attitudes towards privacy, Whittaker is adamant that the principle is an existential issue.

“We will do the right thing. We would rather go bankrupt to stay in business than undermine or backdoor the privacy guarantees that we promise people.”

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Year No Comment.
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education I studied Literature and Rhetoric at Berkeley, then joined Google in 2006 and learned the rest of my education there.
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Source: www.theguardian.com

Researchers warn that the rapid spread of a virus poses a threat to the health of cocoa trees

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Cocoa swollen bud virus disease It is one of the most economically damaging cocoa tree diseases, accounting for almost 15-50% of crop losses in Ghana. This virus is transmitted when several species of mealybugs feed on cocoa plants.

A cacao tree with cacao fruit attached directly to the trunk or branches.Image credit: Gamera other., doi: 10.1094/PDIS-10-22-2412-FE.

Cocoa swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD) first observed Infected by farmers in the eastern region of Ghana in 1936, the nature of the virus was identified in 1939.

CSSVD is considered the most economically damaging cocoa virus disease and can cause yield losses of 15-50% when severe strains are involved in infection.

Cocoa swollen shoot virus (CSSV) is classified as a member of the plant-infecting pararetroviruses of the genus Cocoa swollen shoot virus. badnavirus It contains nonenveloped rod-like particles that encapsulate a circular double-stranded DNA genome.

Previously, isolates and strains were grouped according to severity of symptom onset and geographic origin.

CSSVD is currently known to be caused by the following causes: complex of badnavirus seed Based on molecular structure.

CSSV affects all parts of the cocoa plant. Symptoms seen on leaves include red vein stripes on immature “flush” leaves, green-green vein spots or stripes that can occur in angular spots, removal of green-green veins, and various shapes Includes mosaic symptoms.

The virus causes swelling of the stem (nodes, internodes, tips) and roots.

In some strains, the infected pods change shape, becoming rounder and smaller and with a smoother surface.

“This virus is a real threat to the world's chocolate supply,” said Professor Benito Chen Charpentier, a researcher at the University of Texas at Arlington.

“Pesticides are ineffective against mealybugs, so farmers try to prevent the spread of the disease by cutting down infected trees or breeding resistant trees. However, Ghana has lost more than 254 million cocoa trees in recent years.

Farmers can combat mealybugs by vaccinating trees with CSSV. But vaccines are expensive, especially for low-wage farmers, and vaccinated trees produce less cocoa, making the damage caused by the virus even worse.

Electron micrograph of swollen shoot virus particles in purified cocoa. Scale bar – 200 nm.Image credit: Gamera other., doi: 10.1094/PDIS-10-22-2412-FE.

Professor Chen Charpentier and colleagues have developed a new strategy. Use mathematical data to determine how far apart farmers can plant vaccinated trees to prevent mealybugs from jumping from one tree to another and spreading the virus That's what it is.

“Mealybugs have several ways of getting around, including moving from canopy to canopy, being carried by ants, and being blown by the wind,” Professor Chen Charpentier said.

“What we needed to do was create a model for cocoa farmers to vaccinate unvaccinated trees to prevent the spread of the virus while making costs more manageable for smallholders. The goal was to be able to know how far away a tree could be safely planted.”

By experimenting with mathematical patterning techniques, the authors create two different types of models that allow farmers to create a protective layer of vaccinated cocoa trees around unvaccinated trees. Did.

“Although still experimental, these models are exciting because they can help farmers protect their crops while achieving better yields,” said Professor Chen Charpentier.

“It’s good for farmers’ bottom lines and it’s good for the world’s chocolate addiction.”

a paper The findings were published online in the journal PLoS ONE.

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FB Agusto other. 2024. Cocoa Sustainability: The Case of Cocoa Swollen Bud Virus Co-infection. PLoS ONE 19 (3): e0294579; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294579

Source: www.sci.news

China’s hacking poses challenge for Western governments in coordinating response

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The phrase ‘tip of the iceberg’ comes to mind as the UK government announces its plans to impose sanctions on two individuals and an entity for their alleged involvement in a cyber attack targeting British MPs in 2021. It seems like just the beginning. But underestimating the situation would be a mistake.

Home Secretary James Cleverley emphasized that these sanctions send a strong message that “targeting elected officials and electoral processes will not be tolerated.”

Despite this, some experts interpret the US’s decision to prosecute seven individuals associated with a hacking group called APT31 as a sign of trouble for Britain. They were involved in a widespread hacking operation, sending over 10,000 malicious emails to various individuals across multiple continents, including politicians, officials, journalists, and China critics.

Cybersecurity professor Alan Woodward from the University of Surrey believes that while the sanctions may not bring about immediate change in the UK’s cybersecurity, they are necessary to show solidarity with the US. However, he warns that more significant actions are needed to address the issue effectively.

The UK government also disclosed a historic hacking attempt, attributing it to “Chinese state-affiliated entities” targeting the Election Commission’s system from 2021 to 2022. The Chinese embassy in London denied these allegations, calling them baseless. However, the sanctioned entities were not directly linked to this specific incident, causing confusion among cybersecurity experts.

The broader context of Chinese cyber attacks reveals a pattern that all Western governments, including the UK, must navigate carefully. APT31 and other Chinese hacking groups have targeted countries like France, Finland, and New Zealand, according to reports. Such attacks underscore the challenges posed by China’s aggressive cyber activities.

Recent data breaches from Chinese cybersecurity company iSoon shed light on the extent of Chinese hacker activity and their pursuit of government contracts. With China being a leader in government-sponsored cyber exploitation, Western governments struggle to formulate a unified response to these threats.

The complexities of dealing with Chinese cyber attacks highlight the need for coordinated efforts among Western nations. China’s strategic denial and plausible deniability tactics make it challenging to hold them accountable for their actions. This, coupled with the elusive impact of data breaches, complicates the cybersecurity landscape.

While Russia’s hacking often causes immediate discord, China’s approach is more calculated, shaping global perceptions subtly. Understanding the nuances of Chinese cyber activities is crucial for international security experts, who view China as a long-term climate change compared to Russia’s intermittent storm.

The recent indictment of hackers linked to Chengdu 404 and the ongoing cyber operations against China reveal the ongoing struggle between intelligence activities and political espionage. As accusations and sanctions fly back and forth, the complexity of the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve.

Source: www.theguardian.com

AI Poses a 5% Threat to Humanity, According to Scientists

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AI researchers predict apocalyptic outcome unlikely

Steven Taylor/Alamy Stock Photo

Although many artificial intelligence researchers see the possibility of future development of superhuman AI as having a considerable chance of causing the extinction of humanity, there is disagreement and uncertainty about such risks. are also widely available.

Those findings can be found below Survey of 2,700 AI researchers They recently presented their research at six major AI conferences. This is the largest study of its kind to date. The survey asked participants to share their thoughts on possible timelines for future AI technology milestones and the positive or negative social impact those achievements would have. Almost 58% of researchers said they believe there is a 5% chance of human extinction or other very bad AI-related outcomes.

“This is an important sign that most AI researchers do not think it is highly implausible that advanced AI will destroy humanity,” he says. Katya Grace Author of the paper, affiliated with the Machine Intelligence Institute, California. “I think the general idea that the risk is not trivial says much more than the exact percentage of risk.”

But he says there's no need to panic just yet. Emil Torres At Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. Such research by AI experts “doesn't have a good track record” of predicting future AI developments, they say. A 2012 study showed that over the long term, AI experts' predictions are no more accurate than non-expert public opinion. The authors of the new study also noted that AI researchers are not experts in predicting AI's future trajectory.

When compared to responses from the same survey in 2022, many AI researchers predicted that AI would reach certain milestones sooner than previously predicted. This coincides with his November 2022 debut of ChatGPT and Silicon Valley's rush to broadly deploy similar AI chatbot services based on large-scale language models.

The researchers surveyed found that within the next 10 years, AI systems will be able to perform most of the 39 sample tasks, such as creating a new song indistinguishable from a Taylor Swift banger or coding an entire payment processing site from scratch. He predicted a 50 percent chance of success. Other tasks, such as physically installing electrical wiring in a new home and solving age-old math puzzles, are expected to take even longer.

There is a 50 percent chance of developing AI that can outperform humans at any task by 2047, while there is a 50 percent chance of all human jobs being fully automated by 2116. It is said that this will happen with a probability of . These estimates are 13 years earlier, 48 years earlier than last year's survey.

However, Torres says the rising expectations for AI development could also be disappointed. “Many of these breakthroughs are completely unpredictable, and it's quite possible that the AI ​​field will experience another winter,” he says. I mentioned that funding and corporate interest in has dried up.

Even without the risk of superhuman AI, there are also more pressing concerns. The majority of AI researchers (over 70%) say that scenarios using AI, including deepfakes, public opinion manipulation, engineered weapons, authoritarian population control, and worsening economic inequality, are of serious or extreme concern. It states that there is. Torres also highlighted the danger that AI could contribute to disinformation around existential issues such as climate change and the deterioration of democratic governance.

“We already have technologies that can seriously harm society, right here, right now. [the US] It’s a democracy,” Torres said. “Let's see what happens in the 2024 election.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com