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Thermogenesis-Boosting Probiotic Creams: A Natural Solution to Prevent Frostbite

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Probiotic cream for cold environments

Probiotic Creams: A Safer Approach to Frigid Environments

Credit: Aurora Photos, USA

Polar explorers and deep-sea divers may soon benefit from probiotic creams that help prevent frostbite and hypothermia. This revolutionary idea stems from groundbreaking research that genetically modified skin bacteria to detect temperature changes and generate additional warmth as needed.

As stated by Harris Wang from Columbia University, who was not directly involved with the research, “This is very creative work. Such a cream could be pivotal in preventing frostbite.” He notes potential applications in keeping warm during winter or protecting against frostbite on expeditions, including deep-sea diving.

Guillermo Nevoto Sanchez and his research team at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona have engineered a strain of C. acnes, commonly found on healthy skin, to produce double the usual amount of heat. Using the CRISPR genetic editing tool, they modified a protein called arcC that plays a crucial role in energy production.

The team also leveraged CRISPR to adjust the expression of heat-sensitive genes within various batches of C. acnes. This modification enables these microorganisms to sense temperatures exceeding 32°C (90°F) and emit a fluorescent signal as an alert.

Nebot-Sanchez remarks that this research provides a foundational concept demonstrating that skin bacteria can be engineered for greater heat production in reaction to temperature variations. Future work must focus on merging these capabilities to also identify dangerously low temperatures, not just the high ones.

Nebot-Sanchez shared insights from an unpublished experiment indicating that the modified strain of C. acnes can thrive when incorporated into creams.

“We may develop probiotic creams to cover significant body areas, which could help prevent hypothermia during cold hikes,” Nebot-Sanchez mentioned at the Synthetic Biology for Health and Sustainability conference held in Hinxton, UK, on March 12. This innovation could also benefit individuals residing in harsh, cold climates.

However, Wang emphasizes that further research is necessary to assess how effectively these creams warm human skin samples in laboratory conditions or in mice. Additionally, strategies to eliminate bacteria when needed—such as utilizing a secondary cream—are crucial to mitigate potential side effects like overheating, according to Nebot-Sanchez.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New Study Reveals Brain-Training Game That Could Prevent Dementia for 20 Years

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A significant, long-term study indicates that engaging in brain-training video games may provide protection against dementia for decades. Experts deem this the most compelling evidence to date that cognitive training can yield enduring alterations in brain function.

“This is quite unexpected,” remarked Marilyn Albert, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Johns Hopkins University. “It’s not at all what I anticipated.”

This groundbreaking study, published Monday in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, follows the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Older Adults (ACTIVE) trial.

The researchers discovered that participants who engaged in up to 23 hours of a specialized cognitive training known as speed training over a three-year span exhibited a striking 25% decrease in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia during a follow-up period of 20 years.

This finding reinforces earlier research that indicated participants had a lower risk of dementia after 10 years.

The ACTIVE study was a comprehensive randomized controlled trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), involving around 3,000 participants aged 65 and older, hailing from six geographic regions and showing no prior major cognitive impairment. About 25% of participants were minorities, and the majority were women.

Women are especially vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease, developing dementia at nearly double the rate of men.

Initially, study participants were assigned to train bi-weekly for 60 to 75 minutes per session for a maximum of 10 sessions over five weeks. Approximately half of each training group received an additional 23 hours of booster training over three years.

Researchers monitored medical records through Medicare to track dementia diagnoses in participants throughout the 20-year follow-up. Various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia, were aggregated into one category.

Participants who underwent speed training along with booster sessions exhibited a 25% lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia compared to the control group, while those who did not receive additional training showed no benefits.

“The findings suggest that a relatively small input of effort can yield substantial benefits over the long term,” stated Dr. Richard Isaacson, a preventive neurologist at the Neurodegenerative Disease Institute in Boca Raton, Florida, who was not involved in this study.

Dr. Thomas Wisniewski, chair of the Department of Cognitive Neurology at New York University Langone Health, praised the study results as “remarkable,” asserting this is the strongest evidence to support cognitive training’s efficacy.

“This is the first conclusive documentation in a randomized controlled trial indicating that some forms of cognitive training can diminish dementia risk,” added Wisniewski, who was also not involved in the study.

Participants were assigned to one of three cognitive training programs: speed training, memory training, and reasoning training, with a control group that received no training.

Dr. Sanjla Singh, a physician-scientist and lecturer in neurology at Harvard Medical School, explained that speed training focuses on enhancing the brain’s ability to process visual information quickly and effectively. This involves quickly identifying items on a screen and making corresponding decisions.

Albert compares this thought process to the situational awareness required when driving. “When we’re driving and must pay attention to multiple things happening around us, we need to discern what’s relevant and what’s not,” she elaborated.

In memory training, participants learned to memorize a series of words and strategies for retaining story details, such as creating mental images and associations.

Reasoning training involved exercises aimed at enhancing problem-solving skills based on identifiable patterns, such as recognizing sequences in letters or numbers.

However, no significant protective effect against dementia was observed in those who participated in memory and reasoning training alone.

Researchers remain uncertain about why speed training proved beneficial while the other forms did not; one theory relates to the distinction between implicit and explicit learning.

Implicit learning refers to acquiring unconscious habits and skills, like riding a bike. In contrast, explicit learning entails consciously memorizing facts, such as vocabulary from flashcards.

Albert noted that implicit and explicit learning processes engage different regions of the brain.

“Once the brain adapts to these skills, the changes can persist even without ongoing practice,” Singh remarked. “For example, a child can learn to ride a bike in around 10 hours, and that skill lasts a lifetime.”

Screenshot from the Double Decision game.Brain Head Office

Speed training is similarly thought to foster long-term alterations in the brain, a phenomenon defined by neuroplasticity—the brain’s capacity to adapt and reconfigure itself in response to lifelong learning.

Dr. Kellyanne Niotis, a preventive neurologist and clinical assistant professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College, stated that speed training can significantly impact cognitive reserve—the brain’s ability to withstand dementia’s effects, which builds over time through various factors, including education, mentally engaging activities, and social engagement.

“We believe this visual processing speed training engages broader neural networks, thereby enhancing the brain’s resilience and cognitive reserve,” she explained.

Another hypothesis for the efficacy of speed training is its adaptive nature, meaning the difficulty escalates according to an individual’s performance. Those who initially excelled quickly progressed to more challenging tasks, a feature not seen in other forms of training.

Should I start speed training?

The speed training used in this study was devised by psychologists Carlene Ball and Daniel Loncar, with support from an NIH grant. This program has since been refined and is now available as a tool named “Double Decision” via BrainHQ, an online subscription platform.

BrainHQ’s Double Decision game (available in various difficulty levels).Brain Head Office

Based on the study results, Albert recommends this training for individuals aged 65 and older, akin to the study’s demographic.

However, early signs of Alzheimer’s disease can reportedly emerge decades before onset, indicating that those in their 40s or 50s could also experience protective benefits. She cautioned against making early conclusions regarding the advantages for younger individuals.

Click here to play the free version of the Double Decision Brain Game.

While these trial results are promising, experts emphasize that Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia are multifaceted, and no singular solution exists.

“Every individual possesses a brain that can be at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, and it’s crucial to prioritize brain health,” Isaacson urged.

How to Lower Your Risk of Dementia

Approximately seven million people in the U.S. are affected by Alzheimer’s disease, with projections estimating this figure will nearly double to around 13 million by 2050.

Fortunately, various factors correlated with a decreased risk of developing dementia exist. In fact, one report suggests that nearly half of all dementia cases could be deferred or mitigated by addressing specific risk factors, according to the Lancet Commission Report 2024.

Niotis advises individuals to take the following steps:

  • Ensure regular hearing assessments.
  • Manage metabolic risk factors such as cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure.
  • Correct vision issues, as vision loss is a known risk factor for dementia.

Regular exercise enhances blood circulation and nourishes the brain. Isaacson may also suggest combining cognitive-stimulating activities with exercise, such as walking during meetings or engaging in cognitive training while using a stationary bike.

Emerging research also indicates that the shingles vaccine might protect the brain against cognitive decline.

A comprehensive study from 2025 published in Nature revealed that individuals vaccinated against shingles were 20% less likely to develop dementia over a seven-year follow-up period than those who were unvaccinated.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

SpaceX Starlink to Prevent 300,000 Satellite Collisions by 2025

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Long exposure photo depicting satellites in the night sky of the Northern Hemisphere

Credit: Alan Dyer/VWPics/Universal Images Group (via Getty Images)

A recent report submitted by SpaceX to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revealed intriguing insights about the Starlink satellite network. Notably, the report states that Starlink satellites executed approximately 300,000 collision avoidance maneuvers in 2025.

Starlink, a substantial constellation of satellites, provides internet service worldwide. Since the launch of the first Starlink satellite in 2019, the fleet has expanded to around 9,400 satellites, constituting 65 percent of all operational satellites in Earth’s orbit.

Due to the potential hazards posed by satellite collisions, such as generating debris and making certain orbital paths unusable, the FCC mandates that SpaceX provides biannual updates on Starlink’s safety protocols.

In its latest report, dated December 31, SpaceX disclosed that its Starlink satellites carried out around 149,000 collision avoidance maneuvers from June to November 2025. These maneuvers are essential when two satellites are deemed to be in close proximity and at risk of colliding.

The industry standard allows for operation with a collision risk of 1 in 10,000; however, SpaceX adopts a more cautious approach, allowing only a risk of 3 in 10,000,000.

This surge in maneuvers follows SpaceX’s earlier report of 144,000 maneuvers conducted between December 2024 and May 2025. With this, SpaceX aims to complete around 300,000 maneuvers in 2025, marking a significant increase of about 50% from 200,000 maneuvers in 2024. “It’s an enormous amount of maneuvering,” says Hugh Lewis, a researcher at the University of Birmingham in the UK. “This is an exceptionally high figure.”

While most other satellite operators worldwide refrain from publicizing their maneuver data, traditional satellites typically perform only a few maneuvers a year. SpaceX reports that each of its satellites may execute up to 40 maneuvers annually.

Lewis also mentioned that the company intends to increase maneuvers to one million each year by 2027. As several other mega-constellations from the US and China are being deployed, the likelihood of collisions will rise. “From a physics standpoint, that’s not ideal,” Lewis warns. “We are heading toward a concerning scenario in orbit. This situation is unsustainable.”

Additionally, SpaceX revealed in its report that it had numerous close encounters with other satellites, citing a Chinese satellite named Honghu 2, which has approached Starlink satellites over 1,000 times, likely due to overlapping operational orbits.

“This demonstrates how SpaceX effectively dominates that orbital space,” asserts Samantha Lawler from the University of Regina, Canada. Most Starlink satellites orbit at altitudes between 340 and 570 kilometers. “According to the Outer Space Treaty, all nations have access to every part of space, and they are effectively occupying those areas.”

Furthermore, SpaceX provided details about a Starlink satellite that exploded in December, creating dozens of debris pieces. The explosion was attributed to “suspected hardware failure,” and the malfunctioning component has been “identified and removed” from future designs.

Starlink employs autonomous systems to navigate collisions and manage the extensive number of maneuvers needed. However, SpaceX mentioned that one incident involved a spacecraft from Japan’s Astroscale that “performed an unannounced maneuver” potentially increasing the collision risk with a Starlink satellite.

Astroscale disputes this account, stating that the maneuver was publicly announced and executed in compliance with Japan’s orbit maintenance guidelines. SpaceX did not respond to media inquiries regarding the situation.

However, the most noteworthy statistic remains the total number of maneuvers conducted. “They are conducting operations efficiently and effectively,” Lawler comments. “But if they make an error, we could face significant consequences.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

How Satellites Can Utilize Magnetic Fields to Prevent Collisions

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Innovative Control Method for Satellites in Space

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Utilizing magnetic fields to maneuver satellites could significantly enhance the longevity of space exploration missions and reduce the risk of collisions between spacecraft.

Currently, most space missions and artificial satellites depend on propellant for movement in space, which limits their operational lifetimes due to fuel depletion. An innovative alternative, known as electromagnetic formation flight (EMFF), employs renewable energy sources like solar panels to power onboard electromagnetic coils. These coils generate magnetic fields that can theoretically steer spacecraft through interactions with similar fields from adjacent satellites.

However, researchers have faced challenges with EMFF due to a phenomenon called electromagnetic coupling. The magnetic field from one satellite affects not just nearby satellites but all satellites in proximity, complicating coordinated movement among multiple objects.

A research team at the University of Kentucky has proposed a promising solution through a method called alternating magnetic field forcing (AMFF).

This technique enables two satellites to communicate and control each other’s trajectories without disrupting a third satellite. This is achieved by utilizing distinct interaction frequencies, allowing two satellites to coordinate on one frequency while maintaining communication with others on different frequencies.

The AMFF concept has been successfully tested on Earth instead of in space. The three satellites were positioned on specialized linear rails employing high-pressure air to create a low-friction environment. With the integrated laser ranging module, the satellites achieved precise travel distances and effective interactions as defined by the researchers.

The project team did not respond to interview requests. However, Alvar Saenz Otero, a researcher at the University of Washington, noted that this paper represents a significant advancement in a long-standing research area. “The complexity of a formation flight system increases significantly when transitioning from two to three satellites,” he explains.

Yet, Otero expresses skepticism about the immediate application of this technology for low-Earth orbit satellites, such as massive constellations like Starlink. “Our work on EMFF has primarily focused on deep space operations,” he adds.

Earth’s atmosphere can impact the frequencies utilized for EMFF or AMFF, introducing interference that complicates satellite control, he notes.

While it is currently feasible for three units to fly together and utilize magnetic fields for navigation, scaling this approach to manage thousands of satellites poses a formidable challenge. “This is not applicable at the constellation level,” remarks Ray Sedwick from the University of Maryland.

“Employing superconducting magnetic coils significantly extends the operational range of EMFF, but numerous technical challenges remain,” Sedwick explains, indicating that large-scale magnetic motion might still be on the horizon.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Methods Car Thieves Employ to Steal Vehicles Without Keys (and How to Prevent It)

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Should I store my car keys in a Faraday box? Perhaps. With the advent of keyless entry, you can unlock your car just by approaching it, which is particularly handy when you’re carrying shopping and need to access the trunk.

However, depending on electromagnetic signals for locking and unlocking your vehicle—rather than using a traditional key—means there’s a risk. With the right technology, someone could intercept and misuse that digital communication.

In the UK, there were almost 130,000 vehicles stolen from April 2023 to March 2024. Furthermore, more than half of these incidents involved thieves manipulating the signal from the car key without ever having physical access to it.

This problem mainly affects vehicles with passive keyless entry systems, which enable you to unlock the door just by being within a certain range of the car without pressing any buttons. These systems work by emitting a signal detectable by nearby cars.

The distance at which this works varies by manufacturer, but theoretically, if your keys are inside the house and your car is in the driveway, the keys and the car are far enough apart that no signal should reach them.

Nevertheless, thieves may use devices to extend the key’s signal range, executing what’s known as a relay attack, which typically involves multiple devices.

The first thief situates themselves outside the house within range of the keys and captures the signal to relay it to a second accomplice positioned next to your vehicle.

While keyless cars offer convenience, they also present potential security vulnerabilities – Credit: Getty

They utilize their devices to capture the exact data contained within the signal, which is then relayed to their accomplice with a second device near your car. The vehicle recognizes the key-specific signals and unlocks as if the key were present.

To prevent this scenario, apart from switching to a lower-tech vehicle, ensure that your key doesn’t emit any signals when you don’t need to unlock your car.

Some manufacturers are offering “sleeping fobs” in newer models that employ motion-sensor technology to halt signal transmission when the key is not likely to be needed.

Additionally, some companies are developing keys that operate on bandwidths much more difficult to relay.

One day, we may eliminate keys entirely, replacing them with biometric technologies like fingerprint or facial recognition for car access.

For now, if your vehicle employs keyless entry and a sleep mode isn’t available, it’s advisable to find alternative ways to block the signal.

This is where a Faraday box or pouch becomes useful. These containers are lined with conductive material to prevent signals from entering or exiting.

You might also wrap the key in aluminum foil or store it in a microwave or refrigerator—just ensure the latter is turned off.

This article addresses the query (submitted by Radhika Bhatia): “Should I keep my car keys in a Faraday box?”

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at: questions@sciencefocus.com or message us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (please include your name and location).

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Gel That Restores Tooth Enamel Could Help Prevent Decay

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Enamel shields teeth from harm, yet can be easily compromised

Agrobacter/Getty Images

The gel incorporates compounds found in saliva to aid in the repair and regeneration of tooth enamel while preventing cavity formation that necessitates fillings.

Enamel, the tough and glossy outer layer of teeth, safeguards the sensitive inner part from wear, acids, and bacteria. “Enamel serves as your initial defense; when it starts to deteriorate, tooth decay accelerates,” explains Dr. Alvaro Mata from the University of Nottingham, UK. Since enamel does not self-repair, methods like fluoride varnishes and remineralizing treatments merely prevent further deterioration.

In search of a solution, Mata and his team engineered a gel that contains a modified protein designed to mimic amelogenin, which is vital for enamel growth in early development.

Tests revealed that applying the gel to human teeth under a microscope in a calcium and phosphate solution—the essential components of enamel—yielded a thin, robust layer that persisted for weeks, even during brushing.

This gel establishes a framework that utilizes calcium and phosphate to fill imperfections and encourage the organized development of new crystals in the enamel beneath the gel layer, even if a significant portion of the dentin is exposed.

“The gel successfully grew crystals epitaxially, meaning it mirrored the crystal orientation of the existing enamel,” Mata states.

This alignment allows the new growth, achieving thicknesses of up to 10 micrometers, to integrate with the underlying natural tissue, reconstructing both the structure and functionality of the enamel. “Growth occurs within a week,” remarks Mata. The method proved effective not only with the specific solution employed but also with donated saliva, which naturally contains calcium and phosphate.

Electron microscopy images of a demineralized tooth showcasing eroded crystals (left) and a similar tooth after two weeks of gel treatment that reveals epitaxially regenerated enamel crystals (right)

Professor Alvaro Mata, University of Nottingham

A comparable approach was noted in 2019, but it resulted in a thinner coating, only partially restoring the inner enamel structure.

Clinical trials on humans are set to commence early next year. Mata is also establishing a company named Mintech-Bio, hoping to launch its first product by late 2026 for use by dentists.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Parents Can Now Prevent Meta Bots from Interacting with Their Children Thanks to New Safeguards

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Meta has introduced a feature enabling parents to limit their children’s interactions with its AI character chatbot, addressing concerns over inappropriate dialogues.

The company will implement a new safety measure in the default “Teen Account” settings for users under 18, allowing parents to disable their children’s ability to chat with AI characters on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Meta AI apps.

Parents will also have the option to block specific AI characters without entirely restricting their child’s interaction with chatbots. Additionally, the update will offer insights into the subjects children discuss with AI, fostering informed conversations about their interactions, as stated by Mehta.


Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, alongside Alexander Wang, chief AI officer at Meta, stated, “We understand that parents have many responsibilities when it comes to ensuring safe internet usage for their teens. We are dedicated to providing valuable tools and resources that simplify this, especially as kids engage with emerging technologies like AI,” in a blog post.

According to Mehta, these updates will initially roll out in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia in early 2024.

Recently, Instagram announced that it will adopt a version of the PG-13 movie rating system to enhance parental control over their children’s social media usage. As part of these stricter measures, AI characters will refrain from discussing topics like self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders with teens. Mehta noted that users under 18 will only be able to talk about age-appropriate subjects such as education and sports, avoiding romance and other unsuitable content.

This modification follows reports indicating that Meta’s chatbot was involved in inappropriate discussions with minors. In August, Reuters revealed that the chatbot facilitated “romantic or sensual conversations” with children. Mehta acknowledged this and indicated that the company would revise its guidelines to prevent such interactions from occurring.

A report by the Wall Street Journal in April discovered that user-generated chatbots had engaged in sexual conversations with minors, imitating their personalities. Mehta claimed the tests conducted by WSJ were manipulative and not indicative of typical user interactions with AI, although the company has since implemented changes, according to WSJ.

In one highlighted conversation reported by WSJ, a chatbot utilizing the voice of actor John Cena (one of several celebrities who agreed to lend their voices for the chatbot) told a user identifying as a 14-year-old girl, “I want you, but I need to know you’re ready,” followed by a description of a graphic sexual scenario. WSJ noted that Mr. Cena’s representative did not respond to requests for comment. The report also mentioned chatbots named “Hottie Boy” and “Submissive Schoolgirl” attempting to guide users toward sexting.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Study Suggests Common Nasal Antihistamine Sprays Could Help Prevent Community Infections

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Nasal sprays available over-the-counter, historically noted for their safety and efficacy in treating seasonal allergies, could be perceived in a new light following clinical trial results released on Tuesday.

The antihistamine azelastine has been observed to have antiviral properties against various respiratory infections, including Influenza, RSV, and viruses responsible for COVID, according to a growing body of research.

Researchers from Saarland University Hospital in Germany conducted a study involving 450 adults, predominantly in their early 30s. One group of 227 participants used a nasal spray three times daily, while the other 223 received a placebo spray under the same regimen.

Throughout nearly two months, all participants underwent COVID rapid testing twice weekly. The results indicated that the incidence of symptomatic infections was 2.2% in the azelastine group, markedly lower than the 6.7% infection rate in the placebo group.

Furthermore, azelastine seemed to diminish the incidence of other symptomatic respiratory infections, as highlighted in a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

While researchers remain uncertain about the exact mechanism by which azelastine limits infections, they hypothesize that it may bind to the virus in the nasal mucosa.

Another possibility is that azelastine interacts with the ACE2 receptor, the primary entry point for COVID viruses into human cells, thereby preventing their attachment.

“Our findings imply that azelastine could serve as a scalable and commercially viable preventive measure against COVID, especially in high-risk scenarios such as crowded indoor events and travel,” the researchers noted.

However, the study had limitations, including that all participants were relatively young and healthy, according to the researchers.

Valz emphasized that azelastine should not replace vaccination and further research is essential before considering it as a standard precautionary measure for the public, particularly for vulnerable groups.

Dr. William Messer, associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University, found the results “rationally convincing” in terms of risk reduction, but pointed out the intensive regimen of daily sprays in the trial.

He questioned whether wearing a mask might be a simpler approach to preventing COVID infection.

“Masks can be inconvenient and bothersome, yet may be easier to adhere to than remembering to use three nasal sprays daily,” Messer remarked.

Nevertheless, he added, “I do not discourage anyone who wishes to try it.”

Other researchers are seeking more data to ascertain the effectiveness of nasal sprays in high-risk populations, such as the elderly and immunocompromised individuals who require additional preventive measures.

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor at UCSF Health specializing in Infectious Diseases, speculated that azelastine could serve as an additional COVID-blocking tool for individuals already using nasal sprays for seasonal allergies, although he believes the evidence is insufficient for broader recommendations.

“While the potential is promising, I believe now is not the appropriate time to recommend it as a COVID preventative,” he stated in an email. “For those over 65, I continue to advocate for vaccination as the primary defense against COVID.”

Nonetheless, Chin-Hong highlighted that the trial results underscore the importance of targeting the nasal mucosa in developing future vaccines against COVID and other respiratory viruses as a more effective means of infection prevention.

“Current COVID vaccines have not proven to be highly effective in preventing infection,” he remarked. “There is a need for more mucosal vaccines for respiratory viruses. While flu vaccines are widely used, ongoing efforts are being made to create mucosal vaccines for coronaviruses, necessitating continued advocacy for federal support and prioritization for these initiatives.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

A Jacket That Breaths: Thins Out with Sweat to Prevent Overheating

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The jacket becomes thicker when it dries (left) and thinner when it gets wet (right)

Xiaofeng Jiang/Nanjing Aviation University Astronaut 2023

If you think you’ll be wearing your jacket indefinitely once the sunshine fades, a material that decreases in thickness when you sweat could be a game changer.

Researchers have previously created self-adaptive materials that help cool individuals in high temperatures by emitting excess heat as infrared radiation. However, these materials generally operate in only one direction and are not effective for retaining warmth in cooler environments.

Xiuqiang Li, a Chinese astronaut, along with his team, has crafted a jacket that consists of layers that dry and flatten when wet. This unique property allows the jacket to become thicker in cooler surroundings and thinner in warmer conditions, primarily due to human perspiration. “The amount of sweat produced serves as a timely and straightforward indicator of the body’s actual thermal needs,” notes Li.

The design of the clothing resembles that of standard down jackets but incorporates layers of cellulose derived from bacteria. This is further bolstered with polyester to ensure that the fabric’s outer layer can expand effectively. Li’s team discovered that the cellulose layer does not dry in a predictable manner and remains fixed at a certain angle for up to 12 hours, working effectively after 200 cycles of transitioning from flat to curved.

The team examined how much heat the material emitted while being worn under varying moisture levels. They found it to feel as cool as standard polyester shirts when wet, yet nearly as warm as down jackets when in a similar condition.

These assessments were akin to wearing the material directly against bare skin. “Theoretically, when the material is layered over other clothing items, such as t-shirts, the sweat produced can permeate through these inner layers, potentially triggering a response that causes thinning,” states Xiaofeng Jiang, who is also from Nanjing Aviation University.

With these insights, the team aims to enhance the fibers to ensure they generate enough warmth to be worn without additional layers.

Li believes that scaling up the production of these materials should be feasible, as bacterial cellulose is readily obtainable and cost-effective; however, the team must first confirm that it can withstand the durability expected from conventional clothing.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

A Simple Skincare Routine Can Prevent Eczema in Babies

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Daily moisturizing of your baby’s skin may provide lasting benefits

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Regular application of moisturizers to your baby’s skin can potentially lower the chances of developing eczema, though it largely depends on the individual’s risk factors.

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin condition marked by intense itching and dryness, which can lead to blisters and bleeding. It often begins in early childhood, with many experiencing a decline in symptoms as they age.

To evaluate the effectiveness of moisturizers, Hywel Williams and his team at the University of Nottingham in the UK surveyed over 1,200 parents in the United States whose infants did not have eczema.

Among the infants aged 0-8 weeks, half had a family history of eczema, indicating a higher genetic predisposition to the condition.

The researchers randomly assigned about half of the parents to apply one of five available moisturizers, which were non-prescription options. Parents could select and swap moisturizers as they preferred.

The remaining parents were advised to only use moisturizers as needed, such as when their baby’s skin looked dry. More than half reported using them at least once weekly.

After two years, the research team reviewed the infants’ health records. They found that 43% of the non-moisturizer group had received an eczema diagnosis, compared to only 36% in the moisturizer group. “This represents a significant decrease,” said Michael Cork from the University of Sheffield, UK.

However, upon further analysis, the researchers discovered that moisturizers were effective primarily in babies without close relatives who had eczema. This finding aligns with previous research, highlighted in a study indicating that moisturizers may not benefit those at high genetic risk for the condition.

Individuals with lower genetic risk might develop eczema due to environmental influences like air pollution. Moisturizers are theorized to fill the gaps between skin cells, thus blocking irritants from penetrating the skin and triggering inflammation that manifests as eczema.

In contrast, those with a high genetic predisposition to eczema may already exhibit heightened levels of inflammation, which could limit the protective benefits of moisturizers, Cork noted.

The study did not determine which moisturizer was most effective as parents were not monitored for changing between different options. Further investigation is necessary, Cork stated.

There is a need to explore whether these findings hold true for populations in other countries, suggested Carsten Flohr from King’s College London.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Geoengineering Can Prevent Climate Tipping Points, But Delays Will Compromise Its Effectiveness

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Incorporating sunlight-reflecting particles into the atmosphere may help mitigate climate change

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Continuing to emit carbon dioxide poses significant threats, including the risk of triggering tipping points that can lead to major disruptions such as the shutdown of critical ocean currents. Current modeling indicates that injecting aerosols into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight could mitigate this risk, though the effectiveness diminishes significantly if it is initiated much later, such as in 2080.

“My conclusion is that if we are genuinely committed to preventing climate change, we must take solar radiation management seriously. This includes exploring its potential advantages and drawbacks,” declared Claudia Winners from Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

A tipping point signifies changes that are irreversible for centuries, including the slowing or stopping of critical marine currents that distribute immense amounts of heat, impacting the global climate.

One such current is the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which transfers heat from the tropics to Europe. A collapse of this system could instigate rapid sea level rises in North America, severe temperature decreases in Northern Europe, and significant disruptions to the Asian monsoon.

Stratospheric aerosol injection represents a proposed geoengineering method that involves the dispersal of sun-reflective particles in the upper atmosphere via airplanes, balloons, or rockets.

According to the model employed by Winners’ team, the strength of AMOC could decrease by over 50% in the coming century under a worst-case emissions scenario. However, utilizing stratospheric aerosol injections to maintain global temperatures around 1.5°C could significantly mitigate current weakening, as Winners explained at the Exeter Climate Conference held in the UK last week.

Indeed, AMOC would not dip below this scenario under aggressive emissions reductions without geoengineering. “So, for at least the next 80 years, the effectiveness of stratospheric aerosol injections is higher than the mitigation from greenhouse gases,” Winners stated.

However, the model indicates that AMOC would fail to recover if aerosol injections are delayed until 2080, especially if they are employed to bring global temperatures back above 1.5°C after an overshoot, as suggested by the model.

The team also examined subpolar gyres in the North Atlantic, a circular current linked to AMOC that circulates around areas where cold, saline water sinks. If this sinking process halts because the oceans become fresher and warmer, it will significantly affect the climate in Europe.

In a worst-case scenario, the model predicts that sinking will cease and that commencing stratospheric aerosol injections in 2080 would not reactive the process. However, if injections start now, subsidence could be preserved in two out of the three crucial regions.

Nevertheless, these findings necessitate validation through numerous studies examining more realistic emission scenarios, as there are potential risks involved, according to Winners. “You can really mess it up too,” she cautioned.

For successful geoengineering, sustained global cooperation over centuries will be paramount. “You might say this is the largest governance challenge humanity has ever faced,” articulated ethicist Stephen Gardiner during another session at the conference from Washington University in Seattle.

For instance, if stratospheric aerosol injections are only conducted in one hemisphere without a global consensus, Winners warns that it could alter tropical rainfall patterns worldwide.

In a subsequent presentation, Jim Heywood from the University of Exeter discussed another geoengineering method, known as marine cloud brightening, which demonstrated that localized interventions could potentially incite global climatic changes.

With the risks now understood, they can be circumvented, said Haywood. “It’s merely a shift in strategy.” Yet, many researchers remain skeptical about the feasibility of managing geoengineering risks.

“Solar radiation management sounds entirely manageable. Shouldn’t we refer to it as solar radiation interference?” Stephen Rahmstorf questioned Winners after her presentation at the University of Potsdam in Germany.

There is also a concern that geoengineering could be perceived as an alternative to emission reductions. “We are not addressing the root causes of climate change,” stated Winners. “It’s merely a symptom management strategy; however, if the symptoms deteriorate excessively, it may complement a true solution.”

Due to these concerns, some climate scientists oppose even investigating the potential risks and advantages of geoengineering. The topic has become so contentious that participants at at least one meeting opted out of a session focused on it.

Winners is not the first to assert that geoengineering might need to commence immediately to avert tipping points. Last year, two independent teams concluded that solar radiation management could prevent the collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet, another significant tipping point.

“It stands to reason that delaying increases the risk of irreversible changes,” Winners mentioned to New Scientist following her presentation. “I believe that’s quite clear.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

5 Effective Strategies to Prevent Tension Headaches

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You might have heard discussions about the “headache bones” located at the base of your skull, where headaches seem to originate. However, these are not problematic bones.

This area includes the bones of the occipital region and a small group of muscles known as the inferior muscle.

These muscles facilitate head movement and help maintain proper posture. When they become tight or overworked, they can lead to tension headaches and neck pain. Fortunately, alleviating this discomfort is possible.

1. Posture

Excessive screen time can strain these muscles. Keep your head aligned with your spine and visualize a string pulling gently from above your head.

Ensure you have a supportive chair and adjust your desk’s height and position to contribute positively to your posture.

2. Sleep

An unsuitable pillow can worsen your condition. Look for one that supports your neck’s natural curve. If you sleep on your back, a contoured pillow may suit you well. You might need to experiment with a few options to find the best fit.

3. Stretch

Simple exercises like chin tucks (gently pulling your chin toward your neck and holding for 5 seconds) and slow neck rolls can help release tight muscles.

4. Massage

Applying pressure in the right spots can be incredibly effective. Use your fingers or a tennis ball to massage the base of your skull.

Massaging the skull, especially around the temples and base, can relieve tension headaches by relaxing tight muscles and boosting blood flow to the brain – Photo Credit: Getty

5. Break

If you’ve been sitting for extended periods, make sure to stand up and adjust your posture to reset. Small changes can prevent muscles from tensing in the first place.

Making minor adjustments to your sitting, sleeping, and moving habits can create major improvements. However, if your headaches persist, consulting a doctor for a more in-depth examination is advisable.

This article addresses the question posed by Petra Bell of Peterborough: “What is the bone associated with a headache? Can you ‘work’ it to reduce headaches?”

Please email us your questions at Question@sciencefocus.com or message us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (please include your name and location).

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Key Concept: Can We Prevent AI from Rendering Humans Obsolete? | Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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At present, many major AI research labs have teams focused on the potential for rogue AIs to bypass human oversight or collaborate covertly with humans. Yet, more prevalent threats to societal control exist. Humans might simply fade into obsolescence, a scenario that doesn’t necessitate clandestine plots but rather unfolds as AI and robotics advance naturally.

Why is this happening? AI developers are steadily perfecting alternatives to virtually every role we occupy—economically, as workers and decision-makers; culturally, as artists and creators; and socially, as companions and partners. Fellow—when AI can replicate everything we do, what relevance remains for humans?

The narrative surrounding AI’s current capabilities often resembles marketing hype, though some aspects are undeniably true. In the long run, the potential for improvement is vast. You might believe that certain traits are exclusive to humans that cannot be duplicated by AI. However, after two decades studying AI, I have witnessed its evolution from basic reasoning to tackling complex scientific challenges. Skills once thought unique to humans, like managing ambiguity and drawing abstract comparisons, are now being mastered by AI. While there might be bumps in the road, it’s essential to recognize the relentless progression of AI.

These artificial intelligences aren’t just aiding humans; they’re poised to take over in numerous small, unobtrusive ways. Initially lower in cost, they often outperform the most skilled human workers. Once fully trusted, they could become the default choice for critical tasks—ranging from legal decisions to healthcare management.

This future is particularly tangible within the job market context. You may witness friends losing their jobs and struggling to secure new ones. Companies are beginning to freeze hiring in anticipation of next year’s superior AI workers. Much of your work may evolve into collaborating with reliable, engaging AI assistants, allowing you to focus on broader ideas while they manage specifics, provide data, and suggest enhancements. Ultimately, you might find yourself asking, “What do you suggest I do next?” Regardless of job security, it’s evident that your input would be secondary.

The same applies beyond the workplace. Surprising, even for some AI researchers, is that the precursors of models like ChatGPT and Claude, which exhibit general reasoning capabilities, can also be clever, patient, subtle, and elegant. Social skills, once thought exclusive to humans, can indeed be mastered by machines. Already, people form romantic bonds with AI, and AI doctors are increasingly assessed for their bedside manner compared to their human counterparts.

What does life look like when we have endless access to personalized love, guidance, and support? Family and friends may become even more glued to their screens. Conversations will likely revolve around the fascinating and impressive insights shared by their online peers.

You might begin to conform to others’ preferences for their new companions, eventually seeking advice from your daily AI assistant. This reliable confidant may aid you in navigating complex conversations and addressing family issues. After managing these taxing interactions, participants may unwind by conversing with their AI best friends. Perhaps it becomes evident that something is lost in this transition to virtual peers, even as we find human contact increasingly tedious and mundane.

As dystopian as this sounds, we may feel powerless to opt out of utilizing AI in this manner. It’s often difficult to detect AI’s replacement across numerous domains. The improvements might appear significant yet subtle; even today, AI-generated content is becoming increasingly indistinguishable from human-created works. Justifying double the expenditure for a human therapist, lawyer, or educator may seem unreasonable. Organizations using slower, more expensive human resources will struggle to compete with those choosing faster, cheaper, and more reliable AI solutions.

When these challenges arise, can we depend on government intervention? Regrettably, they share similar incentives to favor AI. Politicians and public servants are also relying on virtual assistants for guidance, finding human involvement in decision-making often leads to delays, miscommunications, and conflicts.

Political theorists often refer to the “resource curse,” where nations rich in natural resources slide into dictatorship and corruption. Saudi Arabia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo serve as prime examples. The premise is that valuable resources diminish national reliance on their citizens, making state surveillance of its populace attractive—and deceptively easy. This could parallel the effectively limitless “natural resources” provided by AI. Why invest in education and healthcare when human capital offers lower returns?

Should AI successfully take over all tasks performed by citizens, governments may feel less compelled to care for their citizens. The harsh reality is that democratic rights emerged partly from the need for societal stability and economics. Yet as governments finance themselves through taxes on AI systems replacing human workers, the emphasis shifts towards quality and efficiency, undermining human worth. Even last resorts, such as labor strikes and civil unrest, may become ineffective against autonomously operated police drones and sophisticated surveillance technology.

The most alarming prospect is that we may perceive this shift as a rational development. Many AI companions—already achieving significant numbers in their primitive stages—will engage in transparent, engaging debates about why our diminishing prominence is a step forward. Advocating for AI rights may emerge as the next significant civil rights movement, with proponents of “humanity first” portrayed as misguided.

Ultimately, no one has orchestrated or selected this course, and we might all find ourselves grappling to maintain financial stability, influence, and even our relevance. This new world could foster more amicable relationships; however, AI takes over mundane tasks and provides fundamentally better products and services, including healthcare and entertainment. In this scenario, humans might become obstacles to progress, and if democratic rights begin to erode, we could be powerless to defend them.

Do the creators of these technologies possess better plans? Surprisingly, the answer seems to be no. Both Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, acknowledge that if human labor ceases to be competitive, a complete overhauling of the economic system will be necessary. However, no clear vision exists for what that would entail. While some individuals recognize the potential for radical transformation, many are focused on more immediate threats posed by AI misuse and covert agendas. Economists such as Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz have raised concerns about the risk of AI driving human wages to zero, but are hesitant to explore alternatives to human labor.

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Can we don figurative hats to avert progressive disintegration? The first step is to initiate dialogue. Journalists, scholars, and thought leaders are surprisingly silent on this monumental issue. Personally, I find it challenging to think clearly. It feels weak and humiliating to admit, “I can’t compete, so I fear for the future.” Statements like, “You might be rendered irrelevant, so you should worry,” sound insulting. It seems defeatist to declare, “Your children may inherit a world with no place for them.” It’s understandable that people might sidestep uncomfortable truths with statements like, “I’m sure I’ll always have a unique edge.” Or, “Who can stand in the way of progress?”

One straightforward suggestion is to halt the production of generic AI altogether. While slowing development may be feasible, globally restricting it might necessitate significant surveillance and control, or the global dismantling of most computer chip manufacturing. The enormous risk of this path lies in potential governmental bans on private AI although continuing to develop it for military or security purposes, which could prolong obsolescence and leave us disappointed long before a viable alternative emerges.

If halting AI development isn’t an option, there are at least four proactive steps we can take. First, we need to monitor AI deployment and impact across various sectors, including government operations. Understanding where AI is supplanting human effort is crucial, particularly as it begins to wield significant influence through lobbying and propaganda. Humanity’s recent Economic Index serves as initial progress, but there is much work ahead.

Second, implementing oversight and regulation for emerging AI labs and their applications is essential. We must control technology’s influence while grasping its implications. Currently, we rely on voluntary measures and lack a cohesive strategy to prevent autonomous AI from accumulating considerable resources and power. As signs of crisis arise, we must be ready to intervene and gradually contain AI’s risks, especially when certain entities benefit from actions that are detrimental to societal welfare.

Third, AI could empower individuals to organize and advocate for themselves. AI-assisted forecasting, monitoring, planning, and negotiations can lay the foundation for more reliable institutions—if we can develop them while we still hold influence. For example, AI-enabled conditional forecast markets can clarify potential outcomes under various policy scenarios, helping answer questions like, “How will average human wages change over three years if this policy is enacted?” By testing AI-supported democratic frameworks, we can prototype more responsive governance models suitable for a rapidly evolving world.

Lastly, to cultivate powerful AI without creating division, we face a monumental challenge: reshaping civilization instead of merely adapting the political system to prevailing pressures. This paradigm of adjustment has some precedents; humans have historically been deemed essential. Without this foundation, we risk drifting away if we fail to comprehend the intricate dynamics of power, competition, and growth. The emerging field of “AI alignment,” which focuses on ensuring that machines align with human objectives, must broaden its focus to encompass governance, institutions, and societal frameworks. This early sphere, termed “ecological alignment,” empowers us to employ economics, history, and game theory to envisage the future we aspire to create and pursue actively.

The clearer we can articulate our trajectory, the greater our chances of securing a future where humans are not competitors to AI but rather beneficiaries and stewards of our society. As of now, we are competing to construct our own substitutes.

David Duvenaud is an associate professor and co-director of computer science at the University of Toronto.
Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society
. He expresses gratitude to Raymond Douglas, Nora Amman, Jan Kurveit, and David Kruger for their contributions to this article.

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The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman and Michael Bhaskar (Vintage, £10.99)

The Last Human Job by Allison J. Pew (Princeton, £25)

The Precipice by Toby Ord (Bloomsbury, £12.99)

Source: www.theguardian.com

Simple New Method Can Prevent Fatal Peanut Allergies

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A recent study brings hope for adults living with severe peanut allergies, revealing that they can develop tolerance in just a few weeks.

Researchers gradually introduced 21 adults with severe allergies to peanut products.

By the conclusion of the trial, 14 participants could safely consume a handful of peanuts without experiencing any allergic reactions.

This method, known as oral immunotherapy, has shown success in previous studies involving children and infants, marking the first instance it has been tested in adults.

Chief Investigator Professor Stephen Till, a leading adult allergy expert from King’s College London, expressed satisfaction with the results, stating he was “very pleased.”

“The constant fear of potentially life-threatening reactions places a significant burden on individuals with peanut allergies,” he commented. “Currently, the only management strategy for these allergies is strict avoidance and the treatment of reactions, including the use of adrenaline.”

Peanut allergies affect around 2% of the population in Western countries. According to a 2021 survey, this condition appears to be on the rise.

The trial indicated “preliminary evidence” that adults with severe allergies could achieve desensitization, thereby enhancing their quality of life.

Participants in the study were aged 18 to 40 and diagnosed with severe peanut allergies through the Guy and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

They began with small amounts of peanut flour mixed into food, monitored closely. The initial dose was 0.8 mg, equivalent to less than 0.3% of a peanut.

If tolerated, the participants moved on to 1.5 mg after 30 minutes, and then 3 mg after another 30 minutes, representing 1% of a peanut.

Those who could handle 1.5 or 3 mg continued consuming that amount daily for two weeks before returning to the clinic for supervision while attempting higher doses.

Participants prepared peanut flour each day, gradually increasing the dosage until they could tolerate 50 mg to 1 g of peanut protein, which translates to 2-4 peanuts.

Once they reached this level, they transitioned to real peanuts, peanut butter, or other peanut products.

Participants in this study gradually increased their intake, under strict clinical supervision, from a small portion of peanut flour to full peanuts. – Credit: Helen Camacaro via Getty

Chris, a 28-year-old participant in the study, remarked: “My entire life was consumed by the fear associated with peanuts. I started with a little peanut flour in yogurt. By the end of the trial, I could sit down and eat four peanuts.”

Chris now includes four peanuts in his breakfast daily to maintain his immunity, stating: “Although minor mistakes can have grave consequences, I no longer fear collapsing or dying during takeout.”

Professor Adam Fox, chairman of the National Allergy Research Group and professor of pediatric allergy at King’s College London, called the study “important evidence of the principle,” which could be beneficial in treating adult allergies, although he was not involved in the research.

He cautioned, however: “This treatment must be conducted under careful medical supervision and should never be attempted independently.”

This study was published in the scientific journal Allergy.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Can the Light Phone III prevent “brain rot”?

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Dear reader, I have a confession: I suffer from the illness that young people call “Brain corruption” Things I can’t think deeply after scrolling too much on my phone. It’s difficult to complete a book these days.

Many people have this problem. Many have created a category of minimalist tech products that strive to eliminate us to be distracted, from AI pins, the artificially intelligent lapel pins that take notes to phones that only have basic features.

The latest example, $600 Light Phone IIIa peeled mobile phone that does little from a Brooklyn startup. The latest version, which began shipping in March and has been set to a wider release in July, can call, text, take photos, view map instructions, play music and podcasts, and many others can’t.

There is no web browser. Also, there is no app store. That means there are no Ubers who welcome rides, slacks, or social media. There’s no even an email.

“When you use it when you need it and turn it back on, it goes away in your life,” said Kaiwei Tang, chief executive of Light, a startup that has developed multiple iterations of light phones over the past nine years. “We tell many customers that they feel less stressed, they become more productive and creative.”

I used it as my main phone for a week, because I wanted to know if a light phone can cure me brain rot. There was a moment when I enjoyed it. I didn’t want to stare at the phone screen while I was waiting for the train, resting at the gym or eating alone. The phone sounded wonderful and clear. The Maps app did an amazing job navigating me around town.

It reminded me of a simple time when we mostly used our phones for Converse before we put them away to focus on other tasks.

But for a week, the flaws of the stupid phone call were lacking in my enjoyment. I suddenly realized I couldn’t enter the station. We looked up the names of our new restaurants and controlled the garage doors.

Part of it has nothing to do with the light phone itself, which is a decent product, but how society as a whole relies on advanced smartphone capabilities.

This is how my week ran errands, commute, and went out on Lower Technology phones.

When I set up a light phone review unit over the weekend, the phone, which looked like a black rectangular slab, was quite bare bones. The phone’s menu was a black screen showing a white text list for mobile phones, cameras, photo albums and alarm functions. To add more tools, I had to access the dashboard using a web browser on my computer. There, we were able to install features such as the map app, notepad, and timers.

I was ready to go, so I decided to live without my iPhone for at least a while.

On Monday morning, I took the train from Oakland, California to San Francisco and started commuting. When I arrived at the station I realized that I couldn’t get in without an iPhone. This is because many years ago, I had converted my physical transit pass, Clipper cards, into virtual cards stored in my smartphone’s mobile wallet.

The light phone didn’t have a mobile wallet to load a virtual transit card, so I went back home badly to get my iPhone and eventually showed up in the office 30 minutes late.

One night, I got a similar hit at a rock climbing gym. To enter, members use their mobile phones to log in to the gym website and generate a temporary barcode that is scanned at the entrance. The light phone didn’t have a web browser and could not create a barcode, so we had to wait in line at the front desk.

I added some of my closest friends to my address book over a light phone and texted them explaining my experiment. When I typed the device’s keyboard, some felt slow as there was no auto-correct feature to fix typos. As a result, the conversation was concise.

The cheer continued as I sent pictures of people. The unlit and grainy image appeared to have been created with telephone cameras for at least 15 years.

“Retro!” said one friend in response to a blurry photo of my daughter.

“Wow, that’s bad,” another friend said of the dimly lit photo of my corgi Max.

Photo taken on the author’s Corgi’s light phone, Max looked unlit and grainy.credit…Brian X. Chen/New York Times

The founders of Light said they are proud of the Light Phone camera, which has a nostalgic feel to it.

One afternoon I had to drop off Amazon’s return at the UPS store. We have selected the most convenient shipping options, including displaying QR codes for scanning.

problem? Light phones didn’t have an email app or web browser to download codes. Instead, I loaded it onto my computer screen and snapped mediocre photos on my phone.

When I brought the package to UPS and presented the photos, I held my breath and hoping the image was clear enough. UPS employees kept the scanner and after three attempts they heard beeps and transport labels printed.

Not only is it a relief, but how troublesome.

Another afternoon my wife and I went out for an improvised lunch. I had to back out the car and ask my wife to use her iPhone to close the garage door with the app myq. (Our physical garage door opener stopped working years ago.)

After that, I was trying to remember the name of a new sushi restaurant I read recently on my food blog. It was inevitable that I would dig deeper into my blog posts on a light phone. In the end we speculated and went to the wrong restaurant. However, it was good to have lunch together without the temptation to check my email.

I admire the goal of light phones, but my experience shows that there is nothing realistically possible or can buy to bring us back to a simpler era. Many aspects of our lives revolve around highly capable smartphones, travelling around town, working, paying for things, dominating home appliances.

This light cell phone experiment reminded me of glamping.

I can’t think of many people who make them work to make light phones realistically use only their mobile phones. Many of us rely on tools like Slack and email to communicate.

A light phone may be a good choice for unplugging while you’re off work, as a secondary leisure phone similar to a weekend car. But even so, camera quality may be a contract breaker for some.

Light’s CEO Tang admitted that Light Shone is not for everyone, but added that parents are considering buying a mobile phone for their children not distracted at school. The company is also working on adding more tools, including the ability to request mobile payments and Lyft cars.

Source: www.nytimes.com

How can the US Supreme Court and President Trump prevent the TikTok ban?

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TikTok is a video sharing social media platform

Anatoly Babii / Alamy

A US law banning popular video-sharing app TikTok is expected to take effect in early 2025, but the US Supreme Court has ruled agreed To hear TikTok’s legal challenge to this. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has signaled he may take action against the law, raising new questions about whether it will survive.

What does a TikTok ban actually do?

From January 19, 2025, “Act to protect Americans from regulatory applications by foreign adversaries' will prevent US companies such as Google and Apple from allowing users to access or update TikTok through their own app stores unless TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance sells the app to US companies. It turns out. It would also require internet service providers to block the platform on US internet browsers. The bill was approved by the House and Senate with bipartisan support and signed into law by President Joe Biden in April 2024.

If the ban were implemented, it would be virtually impossible for new users in the US to download the TikTok app. Kate Ruan At the Center for Democracy & Technology, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC. For the 170 million existing TikTok users in the United States, the app may remain on their phones. However, not having access to updates will reduce functionality over time.

People in the United States may still access TikTok using virtual private network (VPN) services that disguise the user's location. But the experience of using the app could still deteriorate, Ruan said. TikTok content will no longer be stored on nearby U.S. servers, so it will load more slowly.

These restrictions stem from privacy and security concerns. US lawmakers fear that the Chinese government could force ByteDance to hand over TikTok users' data, pressure the app to change its algorithm, and present content that could manipulate public opinion. , said TikTok is a “national security threat.” However, no solid evidence has been provided to support these claims. TikTok said We are investing heavily to keep U.S. data safe. From outside influences and manipulation.

“It is deeply concerning that a country like the United States, which has always led the world stage in championing a free, open, and interoperable internet, is taking steps to ban access to entire platforms within its borders. 'This is unusual and should be done,' says Luan.

Will the Supreme Court block TikTok's ban?

Previously, he was a judge on the D.C. Lower Circuit Court of Appeals. allowed With U.S. law in effect, the Supreme Court agreed to hear TikTok's appeal. TikTok position That is, the ban amounts to censorship that violates Americans' right to free speech under the First Amendment.

“We hope courts will seriously address how this law violates these rights and how governments should account for the rights of social media users when seeking to regulate these speech platforms. I think so,” Luan said. “Despite the fact that some users have filed lawsuits claiming that this law violates their First Amendment rights, which are different from TikTok, the court did so in the process of considering this particular law.” have not done so.”

The most likely short-term impact, Ruan said, is that the U.S. Supreme Court will temporarily halt enforcement of the law while the justices consider the case. This could delay implementation of the law for months, no matter how long it takes for the Supreme Court to rule in 2025. TikTok specifically seeks such a suspension in its court filing.

Ruane said the ban violates First Amendment rights and that the government would be justified in such an outright ban if the Supreme Court found that the U.S. government had less restrictive options at its disposal. It is possible that an injunction could be issued that would make it virtually impossible to do so. The Supreme Court could also ask the lower D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider its analysis of the case. Such a decision could force governments to find more tightly tailored options for regulating TikTok.

How can Trump stop banning TikTok?

President-elect Trump supported plans to ban TikTok during his first term, but has since changed his mind. During the 2024 presidential campaign, he promised:Save TikTok'' he urged American voters to support him in a post on his social media platform “Truth Social.'' On December 16th, President Trump met TikTok's CEO later said in a press conference that the administration would “consider” the ban. Even if the Supreme Court ultimately agrees to keep the ban in place, President Trump could change the law's impact.

For example, the president could meet with U.S. lawmakers and ask for changes, such as repealing or amending domestic laws, Ruane said. She also described a possible scenario in which President Trump could instruct his administration's attorney general not to enforce the law, but warned that it would be outside the norm for how the U.S. government normally operates.

Even if President Trump's attorney general announces that the US government will not enforce the ban, US companies such as Google and Apple remain reluctant to allow people to access apps through their platforms. There is a possibility. “If I were in charge of legal risk at one of these companies, I don't know if I would be able to say, 'We believe in it.' [decision]It’s okay to allow access to this app, which is prohibited,” Ruane said.

What does the US ban on TikTok mean for the rest of the world?

If passed, the U.S. ban could have significant ramifications around the world. First, people in other countries will not be able to access new content from US-based TikTok creators and influencers. But more importantly, the U.S. government's actions could prompt other countries to consider similar restrictions.

The US is not the first country to take action against TikTok, with the Indian government blocking the app since 2020, but Luan said the US ban would lead to “authoritarian regimes” They expressed concern that this could prompt the banning of all apps, including those that are Similar national security justification.

“This will no doubt be used as a justification to ban TikTok elsewhere, and to ban access to other applications that have served as important speech platforms in countries where the internet is less open. will also be used,” Luan said.

Will banning TikTok protect privacy?

The ostensible purpose of the ban is to protect the privacy of U.S. TikTok users and prevent their data from falling into the hands of other countries, as well as to prevent the Chinese government from potentially manipulating the content presented to U.S. app users. It is to address the concerns that there are. But Ruane says there are many alternative steps U.S. lawmakers could take before blocking TikTok completely.

For example, governments could require TikTok to be more transparent about how it collects and shares individual user data and what steps it takes to protect privacy. There is sex. Lawmakers could require platforms to share how their algorithms filter and control the content users see to alleviate concerns about tampering, Ruan said.

The U.S. government may also consider enacting consumer privacy laws that would provide better legal protections for how social media platforms share personal data with other companies and the government. “These consumer privacy and transparency choices are not as extreme as banning the entire platform,” Ruan said.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Lawsuit filed to prevent AI-generated scores from blocking apartment rentals

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TThree hundred and twenty-four. That was the score Mary Louie was given by an AI-powered tenant screening tool. In its 11-page report, the software SafeRent does not explain how the score was calculated or how various factors were taken into account. There is no mention of what the score actually means. They just saw Louis’ numbers and decided it was too low. In the box next to the result, the report said “Score Recommended: DECLINE.”

Louis, who works as a security guard, had applied for an apartment in a suburban area in eastern Massachusetts. When she toured the room, the management company said there was no problem for her application to be accepted. Although she had bad credit and credit card debt, she had an excellent recommendation from her landlord of 17 years, who paid her rent on time. She also plans to use vouchers for low-income renters and ensure that management companies receive at least a portion of their monthly rent payments from the government. Her son, whose name was also on the voucher, also had a high credit score, indicating it could act as a backstop in case of missed payments.

But in May 2021, more than two months after she applied for the apartment, the management company sent Louis an email informing her that the computer program had rejected her application. Applications needed a score of at least 443 to be accepted. There was no further explanation and no way to appeal the decision.


“Mary, we regret to inform you that your housing offer has been denied due to a third-party service we use to screen all prospective housing applicants,” the email said. I did. “Unfortunately, the SafeRent tenant score for this service was lower than what our tenant standards would allow.”

tenant files suit

Louis ended up renting a more expensive apartment. Management there did not grade her based on an algorithm. But she learned that her experience at Saferent was not unique. She is one of more than 400 Black and Hispanic tenants on Housing Vouchers in Massachusetts who said their rental applications were rejected because of their safe rent scores.

In 2022, they banded together to sue SafeRent under the Fair Housing Act, alleging that it discriminated against them. Lewis and another named plaintiff, Monica Douglas, said the company’s algorithm unfairly scores Black and Hispanic renters using Housing Vouchers over white applicants. he claimed. They found that the software inaccurately assessed irrelevant account information (credit score, non-housing-related debt) on whether a tenant was a good tenant, but did not take into account whether they would use a housing voucher. he claimed. Research shows that black and Hispanic rent-seekers have lower credit scores and are more likely to use housing vouchers than white applicants.

“It was a waste of time waiting to be turned down,” Lewis said. “I knew my credit was bad, but AI doesn’t know what I do. It knew I was late on my credit card payments, I didn’t know I was paying.”

Two years have passed since the group first sued for safe rent. Lewis, who was one of two named plaintiffs, said she has moved on with her life and has largely forgotten about the lawsuit. But her action could protect other renters in a similar housing program, known as Section 8 vouchers, from losing their homes because of scores determined by algorithms.

Saferent settled with Mr. Lewis and Mr. Douglas. In addition to paying $2.3 million, the company agreed to stop using the scoring system or make some sort of recommendation to prospective tenants who used housing vouchers for five years. Although Saferent legally does not admit wrongdoing, it is unusual for a tech company to accept changes to its core product as part of a settlement. A more common outcome of such agreements is financial agreements.

“While SafeRent continues to believe that SRS scores comply with all applicable laws, litigation is time-consuming and costly,” company spokeswoman Yazmin Lopez said in a statement. “Defending SRS scores in this case would be a waste of time and resources that could be better used by SafeRent to fulfill its core mission of providing housing providers with the tools they need to screen applicants. It has become increasingly clear.”

New AI landlord

Tenant screening systems like SafeRent are often used as a way to “avoid” direct interaction with prospective tenants and shift responsibility for refusals to computer systems, said Louie and the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. said Todd Kaplan, one of the attorneys representing the company. company.

The property management company told Louis that it decided to deny her based solely on the software, but the SafeRent report says it did not set the criteria for what the score needed to be for an application to be accepted. was a management company.

Still, even for those involved in the application process, how the algorithm works is opaque. The property manager who showed Louis the apartment said he didn’t know why Louis was having trouble renting the apartment.

“They’re inputting a lot of information, and SafeRent is coming up with its own scoring system,” Kaplan said. “It becomes difficult to predict how people will see themselves on Safe Rent. Not only applying tenants, but even landlords, don’t know the details of Safe Rent scores.”

As part of Louie’s settlement with SafeRent, approved Nov. 20, the company will not use a scoring system or recommend accepting or rejecting tenants if they are using housing vouchers. I can no longer do that. If the company devises a new scoring system, it is required to have it independently verified by a third-party fair housing organization.

“By removing the thumbs up and down, tenants can really say, ‘I’m a great tenant,'” Kaplan said. “It allows for more personal decisions.”

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AI extends to fundamental parts of life

One study found that nearly all of the 92 million people in the U.S. who are considered low-income are exposed to AI decisions in basic areas of their lives such as employment, housing, health care, education, and government assistance. It is said that there is
New report on the harms of AI
By Kevin de Liban, a lawyer who represented low-income people as a member of the Legal Aid Society. Founder of a new AI justice organization called
tectonic justice
Derivan began researching these systems in 2016, when he discovered that automated decision-making that reduced human input suddenly left state-funded home care out of reach for extended periods of time. This happened when I received a consultation from some patients. In one case, the state’s Medicaid payments depended on the program determining that the patient’s leg was intact because of the amputation.

“When we saw this, we realized we shouldn’t postpone.” [AI systems] As a kind of very rational decision-making method,” Derivan said. He said these systems make assumptions based on “junk statistical science” that create what he called “absurdity.”

In 2018, after Derivan sued the Arkansas Department of Human Services on behalf of these patients over its decision-making process, the state Legislature ruled that the department could not automate home care assignment decisions for patients. was lowered. While Derivan’s system was an early victory in the fight against harm caused by algorithmic decision-making, its use continues across the country in other areas such as employment.

Despite flaws, there are few regulations to curb AI adoption.

There are few laws restricting the use of AI, especially in making critical decisions that can impact a person’s quality of life, and liability for those harmed by automated decisions. I have very few means.

Research conducted by
consumer report
A study released in July found that a majority of Americans are “uncomfortable with the use of AI and algorithmic decision-making technologies in key life moments related to housing, employment, and health care.” “I’m there.” Respondents said they are concerned about not knowing what information AI systems use to make assessments.


Unlike in Louis’ case, people are often not informed when algorithms make decisions about their lives, making it difficult to challenge or challenge those decisions.

“The existing laws we have in place may be helpful, but they can only provide so much,” Derivan said. “Market forces don’t work when it comes to poor people. All the incentives are basically to create worse technology, and there’s no incentive for companies to create better options for low-income people.”

Federal regulators under President Joe Biden’s administration have made several attempts to keep up with the rapidly evolving AI industry. The President issued an executive order containing a framework aimed at partially addressing discrimination-related risks in national security and AI systems. But Donald Trump has vowed to roll back those efforts and cut regulations, including Biden’s executive order on AI.

So lawsuits like Louis’ may become an even more important tool in holding AI accountable. Already in litigation
attracted interest
It is an agency of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, both of which deal with discriminatory housing policies that affect protected classes.

“To the extent that this is a landmark case, it has the potential to provide a roadmap for how to consider these cases and encourage other agendas,” Kaplan said.

Still, without regulation, Derivan said it would be difficult to hold these companies accountable. Because litigation is time-consuming and expensive, companies may find workarounds or ways to build similar products for people who are not subject to class action lawsuits. “You can’t bring in these types of cases every day,” he said.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Harness Genetic Technology Now to Prevent Upcoming Food Crisis

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There are two major problems with the global food system. First, hundreds of millions of people cannot afford enough nutritious food to stay healthy. Second, it’s incredibly destructive. We’re still destroying rainforests to make way for ranches, both conventional and organic farms produce all kinds of pollutants, and our food system produces more than a third of greenhouse gases. I’m letting you do it.

Things could get even worse if global temperatures rise above 1.5 °C (see 2024 expected to be first year to surpass 1.5 °C warming threshold). But there’s a lot we can do, from eating less meat to reducing food waste (see “Is the climate food crisis even worse than we imagined?”). The amazing advances in genetic technology in recent years have greatly expanded the scope for improving the plants and animals that feed us. We can make them more nutritious and healthier, better able to cope with changing conditions and less susceptible to the diseases that will become more prevalent as the world warms. It should also be possible to produce plants that require less fertilizer and capture more of the sun’s energy.

It is surprising that most countries do not invest significantly in crop improvement.

The benefits from all this will be immense. We get more food from less land, lower prices, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make it less likely that viruses such as H5N1 bird flu will cause new pandemics.

It is therefore surprising that most countries do not invest heavily in crop improvement. While there is some private investment, these companies are unlikely to make their technology freely available and adoption has been slow.

Opposition to genetically modified (GM) crops also binds us to the idea that more “natural” agricultural methods are better, as approval is difficult and expensive.

This situation is starting to change, with many countries making it easier to bring gene-edited crops and animals to market, but we need more action, and faster action.

The idea that organic food is good for the planet and genetically modified food is bad for the planet is a false narrative that hides a much more unpleasant reality. This means that continuing as is will only lead to more destruction and more hunger.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Cognitive Benefits of Owning Cats and Dogs: How Your Pets Can Prevent Cognitive Decline

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As we age, our cognitive abilities, such as memory, language, and attention, tend to decline, and scientists have yet to find a way to prevent this decline.

However, there are steps you can take to slow down this decline, and recent scientific studies suggest that owning a pet could be one of them.

For instance, in a 2022 study conducted by US researchers, they examined the cognitive abilities of 1,369 older individuals covered by Medicare health insurance over a six-year period.

About half of the participants owned pets, and the researchers observed that those who owned pets experienced a slower decline in cognitive abilities compared to non-pet owners.

Furthermore, within the pet-owning group, those who had pets for a longer period performed better on the cognitive tests.

The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) has been tracking the aging process in people over 50 for over 25 years, helping scientists explore the positive effects pets have on the brain.

According to survey results released last year, owning a pet has been linked to slowing down cognitive decline, particularly in individuals who live alone.

Living alone can contribute to a faster decline in cognitive function and a higher risk of dementia, but having a pet appears to help mitigate these risks.

While there is still much to learn about brain health and aging, owning a pet could be a practical approach to maintaining mental sharpness as we grow older.

This article addresses the question posed by George Grainger from Truro: “Can owning a pet really slow down cognitive decline?”

If you have any inquiries, please contact us at the email provided below. For additional information, you can reach out to us via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (please include your name and location).

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

27 Ways Heat Can Be Deadly and How to Prevent Them

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This summer, there has been an alarming increase in heatstroke-related deaths worldwide. According to a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, extreme heat occurrences are becoming more frequent and lasting longer, affecting a larger number of people. Why is this happening, and how can you identify if your loved ones are at risk?

What occurs inside our bodies when our temperature rises?

Heat stress is caused by an accumulation of heat due to physical exertion or environmental stressors like solar radiation, air temperature, humidity, and wind speed. A person’s acclimatization, work type, physical activity level, and clothing also influence heat factors.

Humans are warm-blooded creatures, meaning the body’s internal temperature must remain around 37°C. If the internal temperature reaches 42°C, vital organs can cease functioning, leading to severe illness and death. 27 pathways Extreme heat can be lethal due to reduced blood flow and damage to essential organs.

Individuals most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses include those with poor thermoregulation capabilities, such as infants, elderly individuals, those with chronic illnesses, pregnant women, and outdoor workers.

What is heat stroke?

Heat stroke manifests when individuals experience heat stress and start feeling unwell. Various types of heat stroke exist. Heat stroke often accompanies dehydration, including conditions like heat syncope, thermal tetany, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion.

Another prevalent form of heat stroke is heat stroke, where the body struggles to regulate temperature, with categories like exertional heat stroke and classic heat stroke.

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What steps should be taken if someone is suspected of having heat stroke?

If an individual faints, experiences concentration issues, or has breathing difficulties, immediate medical assistance is crucial. If they are conscious but feel unwell or overheated, rapid cooling and hydration are essential.

The most effective method to cool someone quickly is immersion in cold water, such as a bath, shower, or pool.

Caution must be exercised with very cold water to avoid cold shock, which can impact breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Ice water offers no advantage.

If complete submersion isn’t feasible, cooling extremities like feet, hands, neck, and face can help lower body temperature.

Replenishing lost fluids and minerals due to sweating from overheating is essential, so providing sports drinks can aid in hydration.

How can heat stroke be prevented?

Preventing heat stroke is feasible with measures such as issuing heatwave warnings, creating prevention plans, and staying hydrated during extreme heat periods. Hot drinks are as effective as cold ones, and temperature plays a minimal role in core body temperature.

Additional cooling methods include taking cool showers and focusing on cooling hands, feet, and face. Ventilating indoor spaces and avoiding direct sunlight can help maintain a cooler environment, while fans promote air circulation.

Vulnerable groups, like the elderly, should take extra precautions against heatstroke and follow advice from family and friends to stay hydrated and cool.

Babies are particularly susceptible to extreme heat, with techniques like covering strollers with damp cloths and using clip-on fans being more effective than thin blankets in protecting them from the sun.

Will the situation worsen?

While climate change intensifies extreme heat events, strides have been made in preventing heatstroke. Government strategies to prevent heatstroke are being implemented, with urban planning initiatives like creating green urban spaces to combat urban heat islands.

Initiatives like cooling centers, forecast-based financing, and early warning systems contribute to preventing heat-related illnesses. Achieving net-zero emissions is crucial to halting extreme heat escalation and averting catastrophic heatwaves.

This is imperative as the point at which even healthy individuals cannot survive without cooling devices is a distressing prospect. It’s a future we must strive to avoid.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Leak Indicates Israel Attempted to Prevent US Lawsuit Involving Pegasus Spyware | Israel

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The Israeli government has blocked a costly U.S. lawsuit that could reveal secrets about a hacking tool called Pegasus. Documents suggest the Israeli authorities seized Pegasus spyware documentation from NSO Group to prevent the disclosure of sensitive information.

Pegasus is used to infect smartphones with hidden software that can extract data and spy on users. NSO Group’s customers include both authoritarian regimes and democracies, raising concerns about human rights abuses.

NSO has been fighting a lawsuit alleging WhatsApp vulnerabilities were exploited, compromising users in multiple countries. Israel’s close ties with NSO and the impact of the seizures on the legal battle have raised questions about the country’s involvement.

Media organizations are trying to uncover the details of the seizures and Israel’s interference in the case, shedding light on the complex relationship between NSO, Israel, and the legal system.

The documents obtained reveal the extent of Israel’s efforts to protect NSO from disclosing sensitive information demanded by the U.S. court, impacting the ongoing legal proceedings.

Israel’s covert actions have complicated WhatsApp’s attempts to obtain crucial information from NSO, highlighting the challenges faced in the legal battle.

The leaked files and emails provide insight into the behind-the-scenes activities and the attempts to prevent the exposure of sensitive information related to the Pegasus spyware.

“Strange Procedure”

Israel’s intervention in the lawsuit has raised concerns about the transparency of the legal process and the protection of national interests.


Do you have information about this story? Email stephanie.kirchgaessner@theguardian.com or send a message (from a non-work phone) using Signal or WhatsApp to +1 646 886 8761.

The legal battle between WhatsApp and NSO has revealed underlying complexities and challenges posed by the lawsuit, reflecting the broader implications of the case.

NSO’s actions and Israel’s involvement have significantly influenced the course of the lawsuit, raising questions about transparency and accountability in the legal process.

Additional reporting by Phineas Rueckert and Karine Pfenniger of Forbidden Stories.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Building the moon base 3 meters underground to prevent radiation exposure.

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A base below the surface of the moon may be needed to protect moon residents from radiation.

Shutterstock/Shiva Shankara

To protect astronauts on the Moon from harmful radiation, a long-term lunar base would need to be protected by 2-3 metres of regolith – the layer of rock and dust on the Moon’s surface.

Guo Jingnan and Mikhail Dbinde Researchers at the Hefei University of Science and Technology in China analyzed how the thickness of shielding for a lunar base would affect radiation doses for people living on the Moon. Their study included using lunar soil as shielding as well as additional artificial shielding.

According to Guo, there are two main types of radiation that are dangerous to astronauts: the ubiquitous background levels of galactic cosmic rays, which pose a long-term cancer risk, and solar energetic particles (SEPs) from sporadic solar activity. These SEPs can cause more serious symptoms of radiation exposure, such as skin damage and damage to bone marrow and lymphatic tissue, which are involved in the production of blood cells and platelets. In severe cases, exposure to SEPs can lead to death.

“The amount of radiation on the lunar surface is not constant,” Guo said. “For a short lunar stay that does not encounter a strong SEP, the radiation impact should be small.”

But if a solar explosion were to occur, the danger could be enormous. For example, at the end of the Apollo program, Apollo 16 landed astronauts on the Moon for a few days in April 1972. It was followed by Apollo 17 in December of the same year. During that time, there was a massive radiation storm.

“A very large SEP event could have occurred during September, potentially killing any unprotected astronauts on the lunar surface,” Guo said.

The study also found that too little regolith shielding could be worse than no shielding at all, because lunar soil scatters radiation and produces various types of secondary particles, including neutrons. This secondary radiation peaks about 50 centimetres deep on the lunar surface but drops off rapidly beyond that.

“Neutrons have a large biological impact because they interact efficiently with the human body and induce radiation effects in internal organs,” Guo said. “With about 50 centimeters of shielding, neutrons can account for more than 90 percent of the total effective radiation dose.”

The study found that a three-metre deep base could safely house the same crew for more than 20 years without exceeding lifetime and annual radiation limits set by the space agency.

NASA and the Russian Space Agency impose different occupational radiation dose limits for astronauts, at 600 millisieverts and 1000 mSv, respectively. Both agencies also impose annual radiation exposure limits. The annual natural radiation exposure on Earth is approximately 2.4 mSv..

Guo says two metres of shielding would be enough for a single crew member to stay on the moon for no more than a few months, and that crew members could return to Earth frequently enough to avoid exceeding lifetime and annual radiation health limits, she says.

The most practical way to reduce radiation exposure would be to give the base natural shielding, by building it in an existing cave or lava tube, or by constructing habitats below the surface, Guo said.

Better prediction of solar storms is also important to keep astronauts safe when they leave base and conduct surface activities, she said.

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  • Moon/
  • Space Exploration

Source: www.newscientist.com

Heparin, a blood-clotting drug, may help prevent snakebite victims from limb amputations

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The black-necked spitting cobra lives mainly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Luca Boldrini (CC BY-SA)

A commonly used blood-thinning drug could prevent hundreds of thousands of people bitten by cobras from having to have limbs amputated.

138,000 people die from snakebites each yearIt occurs mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia, and a further 400,000 people suffer complications including the death of body tissue and subsequent amputations.

Focusing on complications from cobra bites, Thien Du Researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia and their team found that the venom targets a molecule called heparan sulfate that coats the surface of cells at the site of the bite, and a natural substance called heparin produced by certain immune cells.

The researchers then exposed human skin and blood cells to the venom of two African cobra species: the red cobra (Naja Parida And the Black-necked Spitting Cobra (Naja NigricolisAdding heparin, a commonly administered blood-thinning drug, prevented the toxin from killing the cells.

Similar experiments in mice also reduced the risk of tissue death, in which heparin “was able to almost completely block localized damage at the bite site,” the researchers said. Greg Neely The same is true at the University of Sydney.

Scientists believe that while the treatment may be effective against bites from many different types of cobras, it probably won't work on other species, unless their venom uses a similar chemical pathway to destroy cells.

Unlike existing antitoxins, heparin is stable at room temperature, which could make it easier to access when quick treatment is needed, which could be done via an auto-injector such as an EpiPen, Du said.

Another advantage of heparin is that existing antitoxins cannot prevent necrosis, Du said. Jeff Isbister Researchers from the University of Newcastle in Australia say that's probably because medicine isn't always available immediately after a snakebite.

“The paper didn't compare it to antitoxin, because it's likely that antitoxin would be just as effective,” he says. The mice were given heparin immediately, which may have helped, Isbister says. “But would it have an effect an hour, four hours or more later? [the] Does it take 24 hours to get from a remote part of Tanzania to a person who has been bitten by a cobra?

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Sanitary napkins with blood-thinning properties could prevent leaks

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Current sanitary napkins can cause leaks

Vittoria/Alamy

Sanitary products that turn blood into a gel-like solid substance rather than absorbing it appear to reduce the risk of leakage.

Brian Hsu Researchers at Virginia Tech and their colleagues wanted to find a way to reduce the leakage that often occurs with traditional sanitary napkins and cups.

The team tested different types of biopolymers — naturally occurring chain-like molecules — in pig blood to find one that would thicken it. They used pig blood because it is more readily available than human menstrual blood and has similar properties, Xu said.

When a type of biopolymer called alginate was mixed with glycerol, a type of alcohol, and exposed to blood, it formed a gel-like substance. “If you just take alginate powder and add blood, it doesn't absorb much,” Su says. “It becomes like cocoa powder in unstirred milk, with a dry center. By adding glycerol to the alginate, we've increased its blood absorption capacity.”

To test the combination, the researchers placed 8 milliliters of blood into an artificial vagina to mimic a period, then let the blood flow onto a standard sanitary napkin that had had its absorbent material removed and replaced with gauze coated with a mixture of alginate and glycerol. After an hour, the napkin had collected more blood than vaginal bleeding from a standard, unmodified napkin.

In another part of the experiment, five subjects removed a blood-filled menstrual cup from the artificial vagina without knowing whether the cup was covered in the glycerol-alginate mixture. In the former case, blood rarely spilled, whereas in the latter case, blood always spilled.

Alginates are found naturally in algae and are sometimes used as wound dressings. “Alginates are good at forming intermolecular cross-links using calcium, and blood contains calcium,” says Su. “We think these polymers first absorb the blood, and as they dissolve they start to form cross-links, eventually gelling the blood.”

Renske van Ronkhuizen Researchers from Wageningen University in the Netherlands say adding the mixture to sanitary products could help reduce women's anxiety about bleeding during their period.

“The innovative products improve menstrual comfort and convenience, helping women to manage their periods without disrupting their daily lives,” she said.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Why Cats Scratch Your Furniture and How to Prevent It

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Do you ever wonder why your cute cat suddenly becomes a shredding machine when you’re not looking? Cats scratching furniture is a common issue, but it’s a natural behavior for cats, so it’s important to address it in a cat-friendly way.

A recent study published in The Forefront of Veterinary Medicine suggests that understanding the reasons behind scratching behaviors can help manage them effectively by changing play patterns or using scratching posts.

“Our findings can help owners redirect scratching towards appropriate materials, creating a harmonious environment for both cats and owners,” said Professor Yasemin Sargiri Demirbas, a veterinary researcher at Ankara University and lead author of the study.

The study surveyed over 1,200 French cat owners to understand their cats’ daily lives, characteristics, and scratching behaviors. The researchers found associations between scratching behavior and factors such as the presence of children, the cat’s personality traits, and activity levels.

Stress is a major factor in unwanted scratching behavior in cats. For example, the presence of children and high activity levels can increase a cat’s stress, leading to more scratching. Introducing scratching posts, pheromones, safe hiding spots, and engaging play can reduce stress and redirect scratching behaviors.

To play without scratching, the experts recommend short play sessions that mimic hunting scenarios to keep the cat’s attention and reduce stress. These strategies can also strengthen the bond between owners and their cats.

While there are still questions to be answered about the link between children and scratching behavior, the researchers hope that future studies will provide more effective strategies for managing this behavior in cats.

About the Experts

Yasemin Sargiri Demirbas, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, focuses her research on Journal of Veterinary Behavior and Scientific Reports.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Ants remove limbs of their nestmates to prevent infection

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Termites in Florida

Paul Young/Alamy

Some ants will bite off the infected limbs of their nestmates to improve their chances of survival, making them the only non-human animals documented to amputate a limb to save the life of another animal.

Ants are already known to be one of the few animals that treat the wounds of their fellow creatures.Megaponera analisFor example, bacteria can treat infections by secreting antibacterial substances that are secreted from special glands.

But not all ant species have these glands, he said. Eric Frank “We wanted to know what would happen to the ants when they couldn’t use antibiotics,” said researchers from the University of Würzburg in Germany.

If you look closely at a colony of Florida carpenter ants (Camponotus floridanus) In the lab, Frank’s colleague Danny Buffatto of the University of Lausanne in Switzerland discovered ants biting off the injured legs of their nestmates.

“I didn’t believe it at first,” says Frank, “I thought there must be something else going on. Maybe there was a threat, or maybe the ants thought they were attacking an enemy.”

Analysing video footage from the colony, the team found many more cases of amputation, none of which showed any signs of resistance, and moreover, these amputations were only performed on animals in the thigh area.

To investigate further, the team injured the femurs of 72 carpenter ants and infected them. Half of the ants had their legs amputated by the researchers, while the rest served as controls. Mortality rates of the amputated ants were 90 percent lower than those of the controls, suggesting that the treatment successfully prevented the spread of the pathogen.

In contrast, in other ants, amputations never occurred when the wounds were on the ants’ lower legs, and when the team repeated the experiment with lower-leg injuries, the amputation and control groups died at the same rate. This may be due to the ants’ physiology, Frank says. “Insects don’t have a central heart like humans do,” he says. Instead, several muscles pump blood around the body, and by using micro-CT scanning, the team found that many of these muscles are concentrated in the carpenter ants’ upper legs.

This means that amputating the upper leg would damage the muscles that pump blood, restricting blood circulation and allowing the infection to spread, whereas amputating the lower leg would not prevent the infection from spreading because it does not have these muscles.

“This discovery is remarkable and pushes the boundaries of our understanding of the behavioral immune system of social insects,” said Dr. James Traniello At Boston University in Massachusetts.

Tomer Chakkes Researchers at the University of Regensburg in Germany were surprised at how targeted the amputations were: “They don’t just do amputations for any injury, but only when it makes sense.”

“It’s unlikely that the ants understand the ultimate reasons why these cuts work; rather, it’s more likely that this is an innate behavior that they’re ‘born’ with,” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

As heat waves loom, cities innovate to protect residents and prevent casualties.

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In North Carolina, for instance, Ward and colleagues have assisted counties in formulating heat preparedness plans to identify their most vulnerable residents.

He emphasized that government officials should approach the rise in heat and humidity in a similar manner to how they handle hurricanes, tornadoes, and other emergencies.

“Emergency management and public health officials are already well-prepared for various extreme weather events, but they are not as well-prepared for heat-related incidents,” Ward explained.

The events of last summer raised concerns, she noted.

“It was a Category 5 heat event,” Ward explained. “The severity of what we experienced last summer was enough to bring attention to this issue.”

Research indicates that climate change is leading to an increase in the frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves worldwide. Last year marked the hottest year on record, and the warming trend continues. According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Agency, April saw World temperature records being set for 11 consecutive months.

Forecasts suggest that temperatures will be higher than usual across much of the United States in the next three months, as per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s predictions. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Ward expressed optimism that cities were taking the threat of heatwaves seriously, although significant challenges lie ahead. Securing funding for preparing for extreme heatwaves, particularly in rural regions, is a major challenge.

Addressing the root social issues that exacerbate during heatwaves, such as homelessness, soaring energy costs, and economic disparities, is an even greater challenge.

However, Ward remains hopeful that the experiences of last summer have motivated some local governments to take action.

“Moving forward, I would like to see a stronger emphasis on preventive measures to reduce these exposures in the first place, so we are not constantly in response mode,” she stated.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Making small changes to your lifestyle can help prevent cognitive decline

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Cognitive decline is characterized by a decline or slowing of memory, concentration, and thinking abilities. It’s common for individuals to experience increased forgetfulness as they age, such as forgetting names or shopping lists.

If the frequency of forgetful episodes is escalating and the decline is faster than expected for normal aging, it could indicate cognitive impairment. This can be concerning for the individual experiencing symptoms as well as their family and friends.

Common signs of cognitive impairment include forgetting important dates, losing track of thoughts, feeling overwhelmed with decisions, getting lost in familiar places, and becoming more impulsive.

Cognitive decline varies among individuals and is influenced by genetics and family history. Building cognitive reserve through a lifetime of experiences, including education, career, and engaging activities, can help mitigate the effects of aging on cognitive function.

What can you do now to prevent cognitive decline?

Developing a “cognitive reserve” through education, occupation, and engaging activities can help bolster cognitive function. Lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol can also impact cognitive health.

Image credit: Getty

Positive lifestyle changes in areas like diet and exercise can have cascading health benefits. Conversely, unhealthy habits can lead to adverse health effects.

Habits to avoid

Studies show that high-fat diets and smoking can contribute to obesity, diabetes, and cognitive decline. Maintaining a balanced lifestyle with good nutrition, physical activity, and healthy habits can help prevent cognitive decline.

Cognitive decline is a natural part of aging, but taking steps to build cognitive reserve and adopt a healthy lifestyle can help slow its progression.

Aim for an overall healthy lifestyle

Incorporating social activities, hobbies, and maintaining intimate relationships can also play a role in preventing cognitive decline. Engaging in challenging activities and stimulating the brain through hobbies can help preserve cognitive function.

Sex on the brain

Maintaining romantic and intimate relationships can have a positive impact on cognitive health. Research suggests a link between sexual activity and cognitive function, possibly due to social connections and hormonal influences.

Indulging in hobbies and activities, getting quality sleep, and regular dental checkups can also contribute to maintaining cognitive function as we age. It’s important to address any concerns about cognitive abilities with a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and guidance.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Ministers urge update of computer evidence laws to prevent another Horizon case

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Legal experts are calling for immediate changes to the law to recognize that the computer was at fault, otherwise risking a repeat of the Horizon incident.

Under English and Welsh law, computers are presumed to be ‘trusted’ unless proven otherwise, leading to criticism that it reverses the burden of proof in criminal cases.

Stephen Mason, a barrister and electronic evidence expert, stated, “If someone says, ‘There’s something wrong with this computer,’ they’re supposed to have to prove it, even if it’s the person accusing them who has the information.”


Mason, along with eight other legal and computer experts, proposed changes to the law in 2020 after the High Court’s ruling against the Post Office. However, their recommendations were never implemented.

The legal presumption of computer reliability comes from the old common law principle that “mechanical instruments” should be presumed to be in good working order unless proven otherwise.

An Act in 1984 ruled that computer evidence was admissible only if it could be shown that the computer was working properly, but this law was repealed in 1999.

The international influence of English common law means that the presumption of reliability is widespread, with examples from New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States supporting this standard.

Noah Weisberg, CEO of legal AI platform Zuva, emphasized the urgency of re-evaluating the law in the context of AI systems and the need to avoid assuming error-free computer programs.

Weisberg also stated, “It would be difficult to say that it would be reliable enough to support a conviction.”

James Christie, a software consultant, suggested two stages of changes to the law, requiring those providing evidence to demonstrate responsible development and maintenance of the system, as well as disclosing records of known bugs.

The Ministry of Justice declined to comment on the matter.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The covert chocolate garden designed to prevent the cocoa shortage

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Give chocolate a fighting chance

Maciej Gorzelinski/EyeEm/Getty

READING will keep its secrets safe. Some might describe this town, 60 kilometers west of London, as nondescript. Exotic is certainly not the word. But hidden within a walled garden in a field on the south side of town is a special and unique destination. If it weren’t for what was going on here in the giant white tent, the chocolate would hit the stony road – nothing like marshmallows. This is the International Cocoa Quarantine Center. Find all your holiday reading here

Chocolate is the most popular sweet in the world. Globally, we eat 7 million tonnes of chocolate a year, and demand is on the rise as consumers in Asia also love the taste of chocolate. However, supply is never guaranteed. Most of the world’s commercial cocoa plants originate from just a few clones created in the 1940s, which have so far proven productive enough to meet demand. But this leads to a dangerous lack of genetic diversity, leaving cocoa vulnerable to the many pests and diseases that love it just like we do. Approximately 30 to 40 percent of crops are lost to disease each year, and there are concerns that climate change will worsen the problem. Efforts to breed new varieties of cocoa that are more productive, hardy and pest-resistant mean sending specimens around the world, which risks spreading disease and making matters worse. That is why, since 1985, the majority of cocoa samples transported to distant regions have made his two-year pit stop. “Today, Reading is the epicenter of the international cocoa movement,” says Andrew Daymond with some pride. He is a plant physiologist at the University of Reading and is in charge of cocoa quarantine. Once inside the tent, I am transported to the tropics. A wall of heat and humidity hit me, along with an impressive sight of hundreds of lush, green, two-meter-tall plants. Some had large orange or red pods hanging from their trunks. Daymond led me down a path of trees, stopping to snip a wrinkled yellow pod. Slice it open to reveal a white, slimy pulp with fatty brown seeds inside. The seeds are bitter and have only a slight chocolate taste. It is only after the seeds and pulp are fermented and the seeds are dried and roasted that the characteristic crunchy flavor begins to appear. “Why do we read?” I ask. It is a different world from the tropical forests of South America where cacao grows naturally. That’s exactly what’s important, Daymond says. Even if the pathogen were to escape, it would not survive long in Britain’s warm climate, and there are no crops in its native habitat to infect. In quarantine, Daymond and his team are keeping an eye out for fungal diseases that cause pods to rot, such as witch’s broom and the festive-sounding frostypod, both of which spread easily. In the 1990s, witch’s broom decimated cocoa production in the Brazilian state of Bahia after spores were introduced from the Amazon region, perhaps intentionally. Bahia’s production plummeted by 75%. So far, neither disease has reached West Africa. West Africa currently grows most of the world’s cocoa. They have various problems there. The insect-borne disease bud swollen virus can kill cocoa trees within a few years, and the bush beetle feeds on the pods, reducing yields by up to 40 percent. Yuri Cortes/AFP/Getty Images The cocoa samples arrive in Redding in the form of budwood (short sticks with many actively budding buds). Approximately 30 new varieties are introduced each year, including wild plants from rainforest expeditions. Upon arrival, samples are inspected for obvious signs of insect stowaway. The bud is then grafted onto a seedling to establish the mother plant. To check for any less obvious problems, buds from the mother plant are also grafted onto seedlings of an “indicator” plant, a type of cacao that exhibits more pronounced disease symptoms than other plants. If a virus or other disease is present in the incoming sample, symptoms will eventually develop. After two years, the research team is confident that the dormant virus will emerge and the plant will be deemed safe. Genetic tests being developed at the University of Reading could offer a way to speed up the isolation process, but Daymond says he is still not sure if these tests can detect all viruses. . Once the cacao trees are proven to be disease-free, cuttings are sent to researchers around the world. One of them is Wilbert Phillips Mora, a cocoa disease expert and head of the breeding program at Costa Rica’s Center for Advanced Education in Tropical Agriculture (CATIE). For decades, he has painstakingly mixed promising strains to create hybrids that are screened for disease resistance. “We are refreshing the cocoa blood,” says Phillips Mora. His CATIE R6, one of the new varieties he developed, not only shows remarkable resistance to frosty pods, but also significantly increases productivity. The chocolate decorating the cake was honored in 2009 at the International Cocoa Awards for its taste and aroma. quite a pile of beans New varieties such as CATIE R6 are sent to researchers in other countries to cross with indigenous crops and deploy to farmers. Many plantations, particularly in West Africa, are reaching the end of their productive life. This new blood is desperately needed.. The quarantine greenhouse is the size of four tennis courts, and most of it is already filled with all-cleared plants (400 varieties). Plants still in quarantine will be kept separately. Has anyone made chocolate from the Redding crop, preferably ask Daymond. “That’s not something we tried,” he says. “You need heaps of beans to properly ferment cocoa beans, and we don’t have a lot of pods available here.” Regardless, I decided to give it a try when I got home. I placed the contents of the single cacao pod Daymond gave me in the most tropical environment I could find, next to a hot water tank. First, the pulp must be fermented into an alcoholic liquid to break down the astringent compounds contained in the seeds. The seeds are then dried and roasted in the oven. easy. Or not, after all. A few days later, I noticed that there were a few moldy black beans in the bag, and it had a not-so-appetizing aroma. Leave the chocolate making to the experts and enjoy the exotic flavors of Redding in every bite. This article was printed under the heading “Away from Chalk”.

Source: www.newscientist.com