Tag Archives: reveals

Survey reveals significant decline in the participation of female students in computing GCSEs in England

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The number of girls studying computing GCSEs in England has more than halved in less than a decade, leading to warnings about “male dominance in shaping the modern world”.

The sharp fall in female participation comes as government changes to qualifications see the old Information and Communications Technology (ICT) GCSE abolished and replaced with a new Computer Science GCSE.

Government reforms aimed to create “more academically challenging and knowledge-based” qualifications, but the introduction of the new curriculum had the unintended consequence of reducing female enrolments, new research from King’s College London has found.

In 2015, 43% of ICT GCSE candidates were women, but in 2023, just 21% of those taking GCSE Computer Science were women.

To put the figures in perspective, 40,000 girls took ICT GCSEs and a further 5,000 took Computer Science in 2015. By 2023, with ICT no longer available, just 18,600 girls will have taken Computer Science.

When asked why, girls who chose not to study computer science said they didn’t enjoy it and that it didn’t fit into their career plans, the survey found.

Critics of the old ICT qualification complained that they only taught students how to use Microsoft Office. In contrast, the new Computer Science GCSE, with its emphasis on computer theory, coding and programming, is perceived by many students as “harder” than other subjects.

The study recognised that computer science GCSEs are here to stay, with 88,000 students taking the subject in 2023, and a four-fold increase in the number of A-level candidates between 2013 and 2023.

“However, these successes coincide with a general decline in computer and digital skills education at secondary school level, particularly affecting girls, certain ethnic groups and students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds,” the report said.

The report included a series of recommendations calling for urgent curriculum reform, more support for computing teachers and “expanding the current narrative about computing to focus on more than just male tech entrepreneurs.”

“The lack of women in the computing industry could lead to increased vulnerability and male dominance in shaping the modern world,” the authors warned.

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“There is an urgent need for action to encourage more girls to study computing at school so they can gain the digital skills they need to participate in and shape the world,” said Dr Peter Kemp, lead researcher on the study and senior lecturer in computing education at King’s College London.

“Current GCSEs focus on developing computer science and programming skills and this appears to be preventing young people, particularly girls, from taking up the subject. We need to ensure that computing is attractive to all pupils and meets the needs of young people and society.”

“All students should leave with the digital skills they need to succeed in the workplace and society,” says Pete Dolling, head of computing at Fulford School in York. “The curriculum needs to be reformed to include a comprehensive computing GCSE that provides essential skills and knowledge, going beyond just computer science.”

Maggie Philbin, One The technology broadcaster and director of TeenTech, which promotes digital skills, added: “At the moment many students consider the subject to be ‘difficult’ and will vote with their feet if they want to achieve the best results. It’s time to look at this subject with a fresh eye and work with teachers to design a curriculum that is more engaging and that teachers can be confident delivering.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Incredible Map Reveals Earth’s Place in the Expansive Universe

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This story is part of our “Cosmic Perspective” series, which confronts the incredible vastness of the universe and our place in it. Read the rest of the series here.

This map shows the cosmic ring that surrounds us, stretching out to distances of up to 200 million light-years. At this scale, the universe is made up of galaxy clusters and voids, the latter being regions with relatively few galaxies. The Milky Way at the center is part of the Local Group, while the Virgo Cluster is our nearest neighbour.

The magnificent spiral

The Milky Way’s spiral structure is dominated by two major arms called Scutum-Centaurus and Perseus. It also features a dense region called the central bar. Our solar system sits on a more modest structure called the Orion Arm.

No matter how complex the questions about our metaphorical place in the universe, astronomy can help us understand Earth’s physical location.

Earth orbits at a distance of 150 million kilometers from the Sun, which in turn orbits the center of the Milky Way galaxy. Specifically, Earth is located in the Orion Arm, about 26,500 light years from the center.

The Milky Way Galaxy is part of the Local Group of galaxies. Its nearest neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy, is about 2.5 million light-years away and is the largest galaxy in the Local Group. We are currently hurtling towards the Andromeda Galaxy at over 100 kilometers per second, and in about 4 billion years the two galaxies will collide.

Local Groups

It will shake up local groups, but it will barely be on the radar of the wider cosmic neighborhood.

Source: www.newscientist.com

New research reveals deeper insights into the genetic factors influencing coffee consumption

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Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages. In a new study, scientists from the University of California, San Diego and others conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of coffee intake among US-based 23andMe participants. They investigated genetic correlations and conducted a phenotype-wide association study across hundreds of biomarkers, health, and lifestyle traits, and compared their results with the largest GWAS of coffee intake from UK Biobank.

Coffee drinking is an inherited habit and carries a certain amount of genetic load. Image courtesy of Sci.News.

“To create the GWAS, we collected genetic data and self-reported coffee consumption,” said lead author Dr. Hayley Thorpe, a researcher at Western University and the University of Guelph.

“Our goal was to identify associations between genes known to be associated with coffee consumption and health-related traits and conditions.”

“We used these data to identify regions in the genome that are associated with a higher or lower likelihood of drinking coffee.”

“And then we identify the genetics and biology that underlie coffee consumption.”

“Many people are surprised that coffee consumption has genetic effects,” said co-author Abraham Palmer, PhD, a research scientist at the University of California, San Diego.

“From previous papers, we had good reason to suspect that there was a gene that influenced coffee intake.”

“So it wasn’t a surprise to us that in both cohorts we looked at, there was statistical evidence that this is a genetic trait.”

“In other words, the specific genetic variants we inherit from our parents influence how much coffee we drink.”

“The genetic influence on coffee consumption was the first of two questions we wanted to answer,” said Sandra Sanchez Loij, PhD, a research scientist at the University of California, San Diego and senior author of the paper.

“The second thing is what coffee lovers really want to know: Is drinking coffee good or bad? Does drinking coffee have positive health consequences or not?”

The group’s genome-wide association study of 130,153 US-based 23andMe study participants, compared with a similar UK Biobank database (334,649 British individuals), found consistent positive genetic associations between coffee consumption and adverse health outcomes such as obesity and drug use.

A positive genetic association is a link between a particular gene variant (genotype) and a particular condition (phenotype).

Conversely, a negative genetic association would be a clear protective trait that would thwart the onset of the disease.

When it comes to mental illness, the findings are more mixed.

“For example, if you look at the genetics of anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder and depression, in the 23andMe data, they tend to be positively correlated with the genetics of coffee consumption,” Dr. Thorpe said.

“However, in UK Biobank we see the opposite pattern of negative genetic correlation, which is not what we expected.”

“There were other instances where the 23andMe sets did not match the UK Biobank, but the biggest discrepancies were for psychiatric disorders.”

“It’s common in this field to combine similar datasets to increase research power. This information tells us pretty clearly that combining these two datasets was not a smart idea. And we ended up not doing so.”

“Mixing databases can mask effects, leading researchers to erroneous conclusions, or even cancel each other out.”

“There are a few ideas as to how the differences in results could have arisen. First, the studies were comparing apples with oranges,” Dr. Sánchez Loisi said.

“For example, the 23andMe survey asks, ‘How many 5-ounce (cup-sized) cups of caffeinated coffee do you drink per day?’ Compare this to UK Biobank’s, ‘How many cups of coffee do you drink per day (including decaffeinated coffee)?'”

“The study did not take into account the variety of ways coffee is presented, beyond serving size and whether it’s caffeinated or decaffeinated.”

“We know that in the UK instant coffee is generally preferred, whereas in the US ground coffee is more commonly preferred,” Dr Thorpe said.

“And then there’s the Frappuccino, the American fad of drinking coffee loaded with added sugar,” Dr. Sánchez Loij added.

“There are other caffeinated drinks out there and, particularly in the UK Biobank context, tea was not included in the GWAS that looked solely at coffee,” Dr Palmer said.

“GWAS shows that the genotype-phenotype relationship is more different than that between coffee and tea.”

“Genetics influences a lot of things. For example, it influences your height.”

“And these things would probably play out in the same way whether you lived in the US or the UK. But coffee is a decision people make.”

“Coffee comes in many forms, from instant to Frappuccino, and is consumed within different cultural norms in different places,” Dr Sánchez Loij said.

“Someone with one genotype may end up with a completely different phenotype if they live in the UK and the US.”

“And that’s exactly what the data tells us, because in the case of height, behavior doesn’t really matter, but behavior and selection in the environment affect it in different ways. So genotype-environment interactions complicate the picture.”

Team paper Published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.

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HHA Soap othersGenome-wide association study of coffee consumption in UK/US participants of European descent revealed cohort-specific genetic associations. NeuropsychopharmacologyPublished online April 17, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41386-024-01870-x

Source: www.sci.news

Webb Reveals the Inner Workings of the Crab Nebula

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The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has provided stunning new images of the Crab Nebula, containing the highest-quality infrared data yet available to help astronomers investigate the detailed structure and chemical composition of this supernova remnant.

Webb's detailed analysis of the Crab Nebula's structure has helped astronomers continue to evaluate the leading theories about the origin of supernova remnants. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/T. Temim, Princeton University.

The Crab Nebula is the result of a supernova explosion observed in 1054 AD by Chinese, Japanese, Arab and Native American astronomers.

Bright enough to be seen in amateur telescopes, this beautiful nebula lies 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Taurus.

Also known as Messier 1, NGC 1952, or Taurus A, the galaxy was first identified in 1731 by British astronomer, physician, and electrical researcher John Bevis.

In 1758, French astronomer Charles Messier rediscovered the faint nebula while searching for comets, and later added it to his celestial catalog as a “false comet” named Messier 1.

The nebula got its name from an 1844 drawing by Irish astronomer Lord Rosse.

The Crab Nebula is extremely unusual: its atypical composition and extremely low explosion energy had previously led astronomers to believe it was an electron-capture supernova, a rare type of explosion that occurs from a star with a less-evolved core made of oxygen, neon, and magnesium, rather than the more common iron nucleus.

Previous studies have calculated the total kinetic energy of the explosion based on the volume and velocity of the current ejecta.

Astronomers have estimated that the explosion had a relatively low energy (less than one-tenth the energy of a typical supernova) and that the source star's mass was in the range of eight to ten times that of the Sun, lying on the fine line between stars that undergo violent supernova explosions and those that do not.

However, there are contradictions between the electron capture supernova theory and observations of the Scorpio Nebula, especially the observed rapid motion of the pulsar.

In recent years, astronomers have also come to understand more about iron-collapse supernovae, leading them to believe that these types of supernovae could also produce low-energy explosions if the star's mass is low enough.

To reduce uncertainties about the nature of the Crab Nebula's protostar and explosion, Tee Temim of Princeton University and his colleagues used Webb's spectroscopy capabilities to zero in on two regions within the Crab Nebula's inner filament.

Theory predicts that due to the different chemical composition of the cores of electron capture supernovae, the abundance ratio of nickel to iron (Ni/Fe) should be much higher than that measured in the Sun, which contains these elements from earlier generations of stars.

Studies in the 1980s and early 1990s used optical and near-infrared data to measure the Ni/Fe ratios in the Crab Nebula and recorded high Ni/Fe abundances that seemed to favor an electron capture supernova scenario.

With its sensitive infrared capabilities, the Webb Telescope is currently advancing research into the Crab Nebula.

The study authors leveraged Webb's spectroscopic capabilities. Milli (mid-infrared instrument) to measure nickel and iron emission lines to get a more reliable estimate of the Ni/Fe abundance ratio.

They found that while this ratio is still high compared to the Sun, it is only slightly higher and much lower than previous estimates.

The revised value is consistent with electron capture, but does not exclude the possibility of iron-collapse explosions from low-mass stars as well.

High-energy explosions from more massive stars would produce Ni/Fe ratios closer to the solar abundance.

Further observational and theoretical work will be needed to distinguish between these two possibilities.

Webb extracted spectral data from two small regions within the Crab Nebula to measure abundances, and also observed the remnant's larger environment to understand the details of synchrotron radiation and dust distribution.

The images and data collected by MIRI allowed astronomers to isolate dust emissions within the Crab Nebula and map them in high resolution for the first time.

“By mapping the warm dust emissions with Webb and combining it with data on cold dust particles from NASA's Herschel Space Telescope, we have created a comprehensive picture of the dust distribution, with the outermost filaments containing relatively warm dust and cold particles spread out near the center,” the team said.

a paper The paper on the survey results is Astrophysical Journal Letters.

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Teatemimu others2024. JWST analysis of the Crab Nebula: Ni/Fe abundance constraints on pulsar winds, dust filaments, and explosion mechanisms. Apu JL 968, L18; Source: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad50d1

Source: www.sci.news

Greek Island of Aegina reveals ancient workshop where 3,600-year-old purple dye was made

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Coloured dyes were essential commodities in the Mediterranean region during the Late Bronze Age.

Berger and his colleagues unearthed a purple dye factory at site K10 (marked in red) outside Colonna, Aegina, during the Bronze Age. Image courtesy of Berger others., doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304340.

of The small island of Aegina It is located in the middle of the Saronic Gulf, between Attica, the Peloponnese and the central Aegean Sea.

The island has played an important role in the cultural history of the Aegean for thousands of years.

From the Neolithic to the Byzantine period (6th millennium BC to the 10th century AD), Aegina's main settlement was located on a small, well-protected promontory on the northwest coast called Cape Colonna.

During the 2nd millennium BC, this densely built and heavily fortified settlement reached the height of its economic prosperity and culture.

Representative monuments, outstanding finds and rich tombs indicate an economically stable and complex social system integrated into inter-regional trade networks and emerging cultures in the Middle and Late Bronze Age Aegean.

in New paper In the journal PLoS OneDr. Lydia Berger from the Université Paris-Lodron de Salzburg and her colleagues describe the remains of a 16th century BC purple dye workshop at Aegina Colonna.

The existence of this workshop is inferred from three main pieces of evidence: purple pigment preserved on pottery shards believed to be remnants of dye containers, dyeing tools such as grinding stones and waste pits, and crushed shells of marine snails harvested for the pigment.

Analysis of the chemical composition of shells and pigments indicates that the workshop mainly produces Mediterranean snails. Murex striped dye (Hexagonal column trunk).

Excavations at the site also uncovered numerous burnt bones of young mammals, mainly piglets and lambs.

Archaeologists hypothesize that these may be the remains of animals that were ritually sacrificed as sacred offerings to protect the dye-producing areas. This practice is known from other cultural sites, but the exact relationship of these bones to dye production is not yet entirely clear.

The site provides valuable insight into the tools and processes of Mycenaean purple dye production.

Further investigations may reveal more information about the scale of dye production at Aegina Colonna, details of procedures at the site, and the use of this dye in regional trade.

“The discovery for the first time of a remarkably large amount of well-preserved pigment, a large amount of crushed mollusc shells and several functional installations allows detailed insights into the production of purple dye on the Greek island of Aegina around 3,600 years ago,” the researchers said.

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L. Burger others2024. More than just a colour: Archaeological, analytical and procedural aspects of Late Bronze Age purple dye production at Cape Colonna, Aegina. PLoS One 19(6):e0304340;doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0304340

Source: www.sci.news

Astrophysicist reveals the genesis of one of the Milky Way’s biggest moons

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Satellite Galaxy Crater II The Milky Way's Crater 2 (or Crater 2) is located in the constellation Crater, about 380,000 light-years from Earth. This galaxy is very cold, very diffuse, and has a low surface brightness. According to a new study, Crater 2 exists thanks to self-interacting dark matter.

Location of Crater II and other Milky Way moons at distances between 100,000 and 400,000 parsecs from the Sun. Image courtesy of Torrealba others., doi: 10.1093/mnras/stw733.

” discovery “Since 2016, there have been numerous attempts to recreate the anomalous properties of Crater II, but these have proven extremely difficult,” said Haibo Yu, a professor at the University of California, Riverside.

Dark matter makes up 85% of the matter in the universe, and under the influence of gravity it can form spherical structures called dark matter halos.

Invisible halos permeate and surround galaxies like Crater II, and the fact that Crater II is so cold indicates that its halo is low density.

“Crater II developed within the Milky Way's tidal field and experienced tidal interactions with its host galaxy, similar to how Earth's oceans experience tidal forces due to the Moon's gravity,” Professor Yu said.

“In theory, tidal interactions can reduce the density of dark matter haloes.”

However, recent measurements of Crater II's orbit around the Milky Way suggest that if dark matter is made of cold, collisionless particles, as predicted by the prevailing cold dark matter theory (CDM), the strength of the tidal interactions is too weak to reduce the dark matter density in the satellite galaxy enough to match the measurements.

“Another mystery is why Crater II is so large when, as the satellite galaxy evolves in the Milky Way's tidal field, tidal interactions should reduce its size,” said Professor Yu.

Professor Yu and his colleagues put forward a different theory to explain the properties and origin of Crater II.

This is called self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) and can plausibly explain the diverse distribution of dark matter.

The theory proposes that dark matter particles self-interact through the dark force and collide with each other forcefully near the center of the galaxy.

“Our study shows that SIDM can explain the anomalous properties of Crater II,” said Professor Yu.

“The key mechanism is that dark matter self-interaction thermalizes Crater II's halo and creates a shallow dense core, i.e. the dark matter density flattens out at a small radius.”

“In contrast, in a CDM halo, the density would increase rapidly towards the center of the galaxy.”

“In SIDM, the strength of the relatively weak tidal interaction, consistent with what is expected from measurements of Crater II's orbit, is sufficient to reduce the dark matter density in Crater II, consistent with observations.”

“Importantly, the size of galaxies is also increasing within the SIDM halo, which could explain the large size of Crater II.”

“Dark matter particles are only more loosely bound in the cored SIDM halo than in the pointed CDM halo.”

“Our study shows that SIDM is a better option than CDM for explaining the origin of Crater II.”

of study Published in Astrophysical Journal Letters.

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Zhang Xingyu others2024. Interpreting self-interacting dark matter in Crater II. Apu JL 968, L13; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad50cd

Source: www.sci.news

Our Solar System passed through a frigid interstellar cloud approximately 2 million years ago, new research reveals.

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A cold, dense cloud in the Milky Way’s interstellar medium is about four to five orders of magnitude denser than its diffuse counterparts, and a team of astronomers from Boston University, Harvard University, and Johns Hopkins University has found evidence that two to three million years ago, our solar system encountered one of these dense clouds, which may have been so dense that it disrupted the solar wind.

Offers othersThe interstellar material through which the Sun has traveled over the past few million years indicates the presence of cold, dense clouds that could have had dramatic effects on the heliosphere. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Most stars generate winds that move through the surrounding interstellar medium.

This motion creates a cocoon that protects the planet from interstellar material. The Sun’s cocoon is the heliosphere.

It’s made up of a constant stream of charged particles called the solar wind, which extends far beyond Pluto, enveloping the planet in what astronomers call a “local bubble.”

It protects us from radiation and galactic rays that can alter DNA, and scientists think it’s part of the reason why life on Earth evolved.

A cold interstellar cloud compressed the heliosphere, temporarily placing Earth and other planets in the solar system outside of its influence, according to a new study.

“Our paper is the first to quantitatively show that there was an encounter between the Sun and something outside our solar system that affected Earth’s climate,” said Professor Merab Auffar of Boston University.

“Stars move, and this paper shows that not only do they move, but they undergo dramatic changes.”

To study this phenomenon, Professor Orpher and his colleagues essentially went back in time and used advanced computer models to visualize where the Sun was located two million years ago, along with the heliosphere and the rest of the solar system.

They also mapped the path of a “localized cold cloud ribbon” system, a series of large, dense and very cold clouds made mainly of hydrogen atoms.

Their simulations showed that one of the clouds near the edge of the ribbon, a “local cold cloud,” may have collided with the heliosphere.

If this had happened, Earth would have been fully exposed to interstellar matter, where gases and dust would have mixed with atomic elements left over from the exploded star, such as iron and plutonium.

Normally, the heliosphere filters out most of these radioactive particles, but without protection they could easily reach Earth.

This is consistent with geological evidence showing increased levels of the isotopes iron-60 and plutonium-244 in the oceans, the moon, Antarctic snow and ice cores from the same period, according to the paper.

This timing also coincides with temperature records indicating a cold period.

“It is rare for our cosmic neighbors outside our solar system to have an impact on life on Earth,” said Harvard University professor Avi Loeb.

“It’s exciting to discover that our passage through dense clouds millions of years ago may have exposed the Earth to much greater amounts of cosmic rays and atomic hydrogen.”

“Our findings open a new window into the evolution of life on Earth and its relationship with our cosmic neighbours.”

“External pressure from localized lynxes of cold clouds could have continuously blocked the heliosphere for hundreds to millions of years, depending on the size of the cloud.”

“But as soon as Earth left the cold cloud, the heliosphere engulfed all the planets, including Earth.”

“It’s impossible to know exactly what effect the cold clouds had on the Earth, such as whether they caused ice ages.”

“But there are other cool clouds in the interstellar medium that the Sun likely encountered in its first few billion years.”

“And we’ll probably encounter many more over the next million years or so.”

The authors are currently working to determine where the Sun was 7 million years ago, and beyond.

Pinpointing the position of the Sun and cold cloud systems millions of years ago is made possible by data collected by ESA’s Gaia mission, which has produced the largest 3D map of the galaxy ever, showing in unprecedented detail how fast stars move.

“This cloud is certainly from our past, and if we passed through something this massive, we would have been exposed to interstellar material,” Prof Auffar said.

“This is just the beginning. We hope this paper opens the door to further exploration of how the solar system was influenced by outside forces in the ancient past, and how these forces may have shaped life on Earth.”

of paper Published in today’s journal Natural Astronomy.

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M. Offer othersIt is possible that Earth was directly exposed to cold, dense interstellar material 2 to 3 million years ago. Nat AstronPublished online June 10, 2024; doi: 10.1038/s41550-024-02279-8

Source: www.sci.news

An action-filled weekend of gaming reveals, featuring a fresh Call of Duty and Star Wars Outlaws

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debtFor nearly 15 years, I used to fly to Los Angeles every June to cover E3, the massive video game conference where major games and consoles were unveiled for the first time, from PlayStation to Wii U, from Fallout 4 to Final Fantasy VII Remake. However, due to the pandemic, E3 was canceled this year and replaced by a series of loosely connected events: Summer Game Fest, organized by The Game Awards’ Jeff Keighley, the Xbox Game Showcase, and the indie-led event Day of the Devs. It all kicks off tomorrow, June 6th.

Publishers like Ubisoft and Devolver are hosting their own broadcasts, while other E3 regulars like EA and Square-Enix are absent. Live Show From leading games and entertainment website IGN – I worked there during the height of E3 in the early 2010s, when companies would rent studios and broadcast basically all of their announcements over four consecutive days. What’s basically happened is that it seems like we still get as much gaming news as we get at E3, but now it’s much more spread out and crammed into one weekend instead of a week-long conference.

In short, it’s all a bit chaotic right now, but I’m on a plane to Los Angeles just like the old days, so I’ll do my best to play and cover as many interesting games as I can. If you’re looking to follow events other than E3 over the weekend, here are five things to keep an eye on (and where to watch them).

Summer Game Fest Live Stream – Friday, June 72pm PST / 10pm BST

It’s a two-hour live showcase hosted by Keighley from LA’s YouTube Theatre. Based on my previous experience with both SGF and the Game Awards, it’s going to be a series of blockbuster trailers interspersed with very tepid, very rehearsed conversations with developers. It’ll be an endurance test, but with all the big names in the video game industry in attendance, including Capcom, 2K Games, and PlayStation, there should be at least two major game announcements and it should be worth watching. Straight afterwards, for those staying up late in the UK, the Day of the Devs indie showcase (4pm PST/midnight BST) and Devolver Direct broadcast (5pm PST/1am BST) will showcase the satire and independent spirit of the games industry, dispelling any corporate chic.

Wholesome Direct – Saturday, June 89am PST / 5pm BST

If you’re looking for a cozy gaming vibe, this is the place. Farming simulators, dating games, anything with cats and frogs. I get a lot of emails from Pushing Buttons readers asking where to find non-violent, approachable games, and this is the place. In past years, this showcase has proven to be long-lasting enough to get cloyingly cute, and with over 70 games on display, it’s quite possible that will be the case in 2024 as well, but the wholesome intention behind it makes up for it for me.

Looks promising… Star Wars Outlaws. Photo: Ubisoft

Xbox Games Showcase – Sunday, June 9th9am PST / 5pm BST

I’m very interested to see how the rather embattled Xbox division will fare this year, having pushed through the Activision/Blizzard/King mega-merger last year and then made the very unpopular decision to close down some of their studios. With a new version of Xbox on the horizon, the Game Pass strategy seems to be shifting, and Microsoft now owning a lot of developers, should There’s no shortage of games to premiere, with the sequel to the Call of Duty Black Ops series (above), due to launch this year, also premiering shortly thereafter.

PC Game Show – Sunday, June 9th1pm PST / 9pm BST

PC releases tend not to get as much attention in the games media as console releases, so this will be a most exciting showcase for a readership that loves real-time strategy, 4x, Moba, team-based FPS games, CRPGs, and other genre acronyms that accompany PC-exclusive games. Organized by venerable magazine PC Gamer, the event is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

Ubisoft Forward – Monday, June 1012pm PST / 8pm BST

Ubisoft’s lineup this year is promising, with the new Assassin’s Creed game set in feudal Japan and the promising Star Wars Outlaws alone being enough to keep me entertained for an hour, but I Mario vs Rabbids Kingdom Battle 2017 Edition Shigeru Miyamoto made an appearance, Rabbids creative director Davide Soliani got emotional, and it wouldn’t be E3 without a slightly embarrassing “Just Dance” performance.

What to Play

One of the best… Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Photo: FromSoftware

I have two long-distance flights coming up, so it’s time to get serious. Elden Ring On Steam – Fortunately, the best game of 2022 (and in fact one of the best fantasy games of all time) runs great on a portable PC console. Shadow of the Elder TreeThe expansion is out on June 20th and is small enough to be considered a mini-sequel. The good news for those of you who haven’t finished Elden Ring yet, like me, is that you don’t have to finish the game to the end before the expansion comes out, but you’ll still get to enjoy the brutal yet exhilarating rhythm of the combat (and Substantial We’ll be looking back at the game’s history before taking on a new challenge later this month.

Available on: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox
Estimated play time: 60+ hours (expansion will take at least another 15-20 hours)

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Now on TV… Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Photo: SEGA

  • Amazon Prime Unexpectedly Live-action television series It’s based on the fantastic cult-favorite crime drama game, Like a Dragon (pictured above).

  • Sony’s State of Play showcase last week technically kicked off a summer of gaming-related announcements. Gamesradar There is an overview Highlights from the trailer Astro Botstarring an adorable little white robot who serves as PlayStation’s best mascot, is a playful mix of platforming, puzzles, and action that’s great fun.

  • In news that’s too depressing for me to even think about, IKEA plans to pay its employees the minimum wage. Virtual Roblox Store You wanted the metaverse? Here’s the metaverse. Working at IKEA for minimum wage. But now. Not real.

  • Actor and developer Abubakar Salim recently released his debut game, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, with his studio Surgent. made a statement He talks about the targeted racist harassment he and his team suffered, part of a resurgence of the anti-woke culture wars that have resurfaced this year in the games industry and beyond. “There’s always going to be a reason why diverse stories can’t exist. These exclusionary rules keep piling up, and the goalposts keep shifting, until I, my studio, and people like us just sit back, shut up, and accept the fact that we’re outsiders. And I won’t,” he says.

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Nvidia reveals cutting-edge AI technology at Taiwan Tech Expo

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According to the CEO of the AI hardware company, the next industrial revolution has already begun. The announcement was made at a crowded stadium in Taipei on Sunday by Nvidia, as they revealed new products and plans to drive advancements in artificial intelligence.

Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, is currently attending Computex, Taiwan’s largest technology exhibition, alongside CEOs from major semiconductor companies such as AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm. The focus of the event is on establishing AI as a mainstream technology in the industry.

Having been born in Taiwan, Huang is a prominent figure on the island, and his presence has generated significant interest from the media and the public. Nvidia is recognized as the leader in specialized chips and hardware essential for the development and operation of cutting-edge AI systems.

During his address at the National Taiwan University’s Sports Center, Huang mentioned the collaboration between companies and countries with Nvidia to revamp their traditional data centers into high-speed computing facilities, focusing on creating an AI factory for the mass production of artificial intelligence.

He introduced the Nvidia ACE generation AI, which can generate lifelike human avatars for industries like customer support. Several top technology companies, including Foxconn and Siemens, are leveraging Nvidia’s platform to develop AI-driven autonomous robots.

Nvidia recently unveiled its Blackwell platform, and Huang disclosed plans to launch an “Ultra” version in 2025. He also provided a glimpse of their upcoming graphics processing unit architecture, codenamed Rubin. Huang emphasized Nvidia’s commitment to accelerating the release of new GPU products annually.

In his forward-looking speech, Huang predicted that generative AI would play a significant role in almost every interaction with the internet or computers in the future. He concluded by praising Taiwan’s advanced semiconductor industry, which plays a crucial role in manufacturing essential components for various technologies.

Keynote addresses at Computex are also expected from AMD’s Lisa Su and Qualcomm’s Cristiano Amon, outlining their companies’ plans in AI. Other speakers include Intel’s CEO Pat Gelsinger and Arm’s president Rene Haas, highlighting the significance of AI-accelerated technologies.

Taiwanese manufacturers are pivotal to technology companies’ AI strategies as they produce advanced semiconductors required for powerful AI applications. Foxconn, known for electronics production, has shifted towards AI hardware, with their CEO projecting substantial growth in the AI server market.

Despite Taiwan’s crucial role in the global supply chain, there are concerns over China’s territorial claims and potential use of force. Tensions between Beijing and Taipei have escalated, with China conducting military exercises near Taiwan, including simulated blockades.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Research reveals crows can distinguish up to four sounds.

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Carrion crow (Crow) It can count up to four times based on visual and auditory cues and control the number of times it vocalizes. study Published in the journal Science.

Carrion crow (Crow). Image courtesy of Andreas Nieder.

Counting out loud (e.g., reciting 1, 2, 3, etc.) requires an understanding of quantity and controlled, purposeful vocalization.

Humans use language to count and communicate quantity symbolically, which is a complex skill developed during childhood.

Before acquiring symbolic counting, where specific words are associated with specific quantities, infants produce several sounds that correspond to the quantities of objects they see and use these sounds as acoustic counting to communicate the corresponding numbers.

This early human behavior reflects a non-symbolic capacity shared with animals.

Some animals have demonstrated the ability to distinguish between different numbers of objects and communicate information through different numbers of vocalizations.

However, it is unclear whether animals other than humans have the ability to count by intentionally making a specific number of vocalizations.

“The carrion crow, a member of the songbird group, is known not for the beauty of its song but for its incredible learning ability,” Professor Andreas Nieder, researcher University of Tübingen.

“For example, previous studies have shown that birds understand counting.”

“Plus, they have incredible vocal control. They can control exactly whether or not they're going to chirp.”

In this study, Professor Nieder and his co-authors investigated whether carrion crows can control the rate at which they vocalize and solve complex vocal response tasks.

The researchers trained three crows to produce one to four vocalizations in response to both visual (colored numbers) and auditory (distinct sounds) cues associated with numerical values.

On each trial, birds were required to produce a target number of vocalizations and indicate the end of the vocalization sequence by pecking the target.

The researchers found that crows can successfully and purposefully produce a specific number of vocalizations in response to specific cues, a level of control that has not yet been observed in other animals.

The birds used a non-symbolic approximate number system and planned the number of vocalizations before initiating them.

Further analysis showed that the timing and characteristics of the first vocalization predicted the number of subsequent vocalizations, and different acoustic features of the vocalizations indicated their number in a given sequence.

“Our results show that humans are not the only ones who can do this,” Professor Nieder said.

“In principle, this could enable advanced communication with crows.”

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Diana A. Liao othersThe year is 2024. Crows “count” the number of cries they make. Science 384(6698):874-877; doi:10.1126/science.adl0984

Source: www.sci.news

New research reveals insights into childhood stress in Neanderthals and Paleolithic humans

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Neanderthal life has been portrayed as historically highly stressful, shaped by constant pressure to survive in harsh ecological conditions, which may have contributed to their extinction. In a new study, paleoanthropologists analyzed the frequency of dental enamel hypoplasia, an indicator of growth impairment due to early life stress, in the largest sample of Neanderthals and Upper Paleolithic humans. Their findings support similar overall stress levels in both groups, but show that there are species-specific patterns in the distribution of its occurrence. They found that the likelihood of growth impairment increased during the weaning process in Neanderthal children and culminated in intensity after weaning, whereas growth impairment in Upper Paleolithic children was limited to the time of weaning and significantly decreased after its expected completion. These results may reflect differences in parenting and other behavioral strategies between the two species, including some that may be advantageous for long-term survival in modern humans.

Neanderthal family. Image courtesy of the Field Museum.

“Neanderthals have traditionally been depicted as living highly stressful lives, including pressures to survive in the harsh and highly variable ecological conditions of Pleistocene Eurasia, which have been thought to have contributed to their extinction,” said Dr Laura Rimmer from the University of Tübingen and her colleagues.

“Modern Upper Paleolithic humans faced similar environmental conditions, but it is generally assumed that they were better equipped to buffer such pressures through their behavioral repertoire.”

“This includes strategies such as greater flexibility and efficiency in resource use and more complex social organisation and networks.”

“Their behavioral repertoire is thought to have given modern humans a competitive advantage over Neanderthals during the Upper Paleolithic, allowing them to survive while Neanderthals became extinct.”

“However, several recent studies have cast doubt on this view, arguing that Neanderthals and modern Upper Paleolithic humans lived similarly stressful lives.”

For the study, the researchers analyzed the enamel of 423 Neanderthal teeth and 444 Upper Paleolithic human teeth.

The researchers investigated early life stress in these individuals by identifying thin horizontal grooves in the enamel that previous studies have demonstrated are associated with early life stressors such as illness, infection, malnutrition, nutritional deficiencies and trauma.

The researchers found that the overall likelihood of enamel defects was similar in the teeth of Neanderthals and modern Upper Paleolithic humans.

“However, we observed that the distribution of dental enamel defects varied across developmental stages: in modern humans, enamel defects were more likely to occur around the time of weaning,” Dr Rimmer said.

In Upper Paleolithic humans, enamel defects were more likely to occur around the age when weaning was estimated to have occurred (between 1 and 3 years) than after the estimated weaning period.

In Neanderthals, enamel defects began to appear during weaning (around 1 year of age), peaked during late weaning (between 2 and 4 years of age), and then tended to decrease.

Scientists hypothesize that the stress experienced by Upper Paleolithic human children during weaning may have been due to increased energy demands that increased their risk of malnutrition.

They propose that Late Paleolithic humans may have helped to reduce developmental stress in their offspring after weaning through strategies such as encouraging long-term dependency on parents, using resources more efficiently and providing offspring with access to food.

They suggest that these strategies may not have been used by Neanderthals, which may have contributed to the long-term survival advantage of modern humans compared to Neanderthals.

“Modern humans may have gained an advantage over Neanderthals by providing better support for their young during these difficult times, such as by protecting them for longer or by providing a better food supply,” said Dr Shireen El-Zaatari, a researcher at the University of Tübingen.

“Neanderthals lived in a particularly cold and harsh climate, which is often said to have led to their extinction.”

“But because over a period of time Neanderthals and modern humans were exposed to the same climatic conditions, we are investigating other explanations.”

of study Published in a journal Scientific Reports.

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LS Rimmer others2024. Differences in childhood stress between Neanderthals and early modern humans reflected in impaired dental enamel growth. Scientific Reports 14, 11293; doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-61321-x

Source: www.sci.news

New Study Reveals Australian Marsupials Are More Afraid of Humans Than Other Predators

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Researchers from the University of Tasmania and Western University have conducted experiments to show that Australian marsupials such as kangaroos and wallabies are most afraid of human “super predators,” fleeing from them 2.4 times more frequently than from other predators.

Recent experiments have demonstrated that carnivores and ungulates from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America fear human “superpredators” much more than they do other predators. Australian mammals have been the focus of research into predator ignorance because they are suspected of exhibiting atypical responses. To experimentally test whether Australian mammals are also most afraid of humans, McGann others quantified responses of four native marsupials (eastern grey kangaroo, Bennett’s wallaby, Tasmanian pademelon, and brushtail possum) and taught fallow deer to playback predator (human, dog, Tasmanian devil, wolf) or non-predator control (sheep) vocalizations. Image courtesy of Pen_ash.

There is a widespread fear of humans among wildlife in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, reflecting the reality that humans are “super-predators,” far more dangerous than other predators worldwide.

Australian marsupials have been traditionally seen as naive to predators, based on their reactions to non-human threats.

“Our results significantly contribute to the growing body of experimental proof that wildlife globally view humans as the most feared predators on the planet,” stated Professor Liana Zanetto of Western University, a co-senior author of the study published in the journal Nature Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

“The strong fear of humans found in this study, as well as in similar recent experiments, is expected to have significant ecological repercussions, as additional research indicates that fear itself can reduce wildlife populations and that fear of humans can lead to cascading effects on multiple species across entire regions.”

To conduct their study, Professor Zanette and colleagues designed a hidden automated camera-speaker system in a sheep pasture in central Tasmania known as the Bowfront.

The five species they observed (eastern grey kangaroo, Bennett’s wallaby, Tasmanian pademelon, brushtail possum, and fallow deer) are the most prevalent native herbivores in the area.

As the animals came close (about 10 meters, 30 feet), the cameras captured their responses to non-threatening stimuli such as calm human speech, a barking dog, growling Tasmanian devil, howling wolf, or bleating sheep.

Native marsupials reacted by fleeing more frequently when exposed to the sound of their next most feared predator (dogs) compared to human voices, and were over twice (2.4 times) more likely to flee from humans (44.3% vs. 18.6% of trials).

These findings present conservation challenges but also offer insights for managing native marsupials in regions where they are overpopulated.

“Global studies have shown that humans kill prey at a much higher rate than other predators, making us ‘super-predators,’ and the intense fear of our presence in all wildlife species aligns perfectly with our inherent deadliness,” noted Professor Zanette.

“Humans are the ‘invisible killer.’ We may not perceive ourselves as the primary predator, let alone the most dangerous, but wild animals clearly see us for what we truly are.”

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Catherine McGann et al. 2024. Fear of human “super-predators” in Australia’s native marsupials and invasive deer. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 291 (2023): 20232849; doi: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2849

Source: www.sci.news

Research reveals that Mycenaean armor was created for extended battles

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A 3,500-year-old Mycenaean bronze suit of armour discovered in the Greek village of Dendra may have been used in combat and not just for ritual purposes as previously thought.

Volunteer Marines wearing replica Dendra armor during a mock battle during a demonstration study. Image credit: Andreas Flouris / Marija Marković.

One of the oldest armors discovered in Europe is a 3,500-year-old suit of armor found near the village of Dendra, a few kilometers from ancient Mycenae in southern Greece.

Since its discovery in 1960 by a team of Greek and Swedish archaeologists, it has been unclear whether it was ceremonial clothing or gear suitable for combat.

This question has important implications for understanding warfare in Late Bronze Age Europe, yet there is no historical record of the use of this style of armour.

In a new study, Professor Andreas Floris from the University of Thessaly and his colleagues combined historical and experimental evidence to investigate the combat suitability of Dendra armour.

The researchers recruited 13 volunteers from the Greek Marine Corps, outfitted them with replica Dendra armour and Bronze Age weapons, and had them carry out 11 hours of simulated Bronze Age combat protocols.

This battle simulation was developed based on the historical records of Homer. Iliad Additionally, we add physiological and environmental evidence to approximate the typical diet, activities, and operations of a Mycenaean army.

Testing has shown that the replicated Dendra Armor does not restrict a warrior's combat capabilities, nor does it place undue strain on the wearer.

These results suggest that Dendra armour was battle-hardened and that the Mycenaeans' powerful influence on Mediterranean history was due in part to their armour technology.

To complement these results, the authors developed freely available software that allows for the simulation of combat conditions and allows testing the hypothetical effectiveness of the armor in more diverse scenarios.

“The armour worn by our volunteers had the same dimensions as the Bronze Age originals and weighed roughly the same,” Professor Floris said.

“We also monitored calorie intake based on the Homeric diet (about 4,443 calories), which Iliad“It linked calorie expenditure and the stress placed on the volunteers' bodies in typical Greek summer temperatures of 30-36°C.”

“As the 11-hour combat protocol began, we measured heart rate, oxygen consumption, core body temperature, fluid loss and muscle function.”

“We found that this armor allows complete flexibility of movement and does not place undue physiological stress on the body.”

“This means that, despite previous views that classified the armour as ceremonial clothing, it could have been worn for extended periods during battle by healthy individuals.”

“Sixty years have passed since the discovery of Dendra armour, and we now know that, although seemingly cumbersome, it was not only flexible enough to permit nearly all of a warrior's movements on foot, but also durable enough to protect the wearer from most blows.”

of result Published online in the journal PLoS One.

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AD Floris others2024. Analysis of Greek prehistoric full-body armour combat based on physiological principles: a series of studies using thematic analysis, human experiments and numerical simulations. PLoS One 19(5): e0301494; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301494

Source: www.sci.news

NASA reveals stunning visualization of a supermassive black hole’s event horizon

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Thanks to a new visualization created on a NASA supercomputer, we can now dive into the event horizon, the point of no return for a black hole.

“People often ask about this, but simulating these hard-to-imagine processes is the key to bringing the mathematics of relativity to reality,” said Dr. Jeremy Schnitman, an astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. “It helps us connect this with real-world consequences in the universe.”

“So I simulated two different scenarios: one in which the camera, standing in for the daring astronaut, misses the event horizon and the slingshot recedes; This is a scenario in which your fate will be determined.

To create the visualization, Dr. Schnitman worked with scientist Brian Powell at Goddard Space Flight Center and used the Discover supercomputer at the NASA Climate Simulation Center.

It took about five days to generate about 10 terabytes of data and run on just 0.3% of Discover’s 129,000 processors. It would take a typical laptop more than a decade to do the same thing.

The destination is a supermassive black hole with a mass 4.3 million times that of the Sun, comparable to the monster at the center of the Milky Way.

“If I had a choice, I would want to fall into a supermassive black hole,” Dr. Schnitman said.

“Stellar-mass black holes, containing up to about 30 solar masses, have much smaller event horizons and stronger tidal forces, and can tear apart approaching objects before they reach the horizon.”

This occurs because the gravitational force at the edge of the object near the black hole is much stronger than at the opposite edge. Falling objects stretch like noodles, a process astrophysicists call spaghettification.

The simulated black hole’s event horizon spans about 16 million miles (25 million km), or about 17% of the distance from Earth to the sun.

A flat, swirling cloud of hot, glowing gas called an accretion disk surrounds it and serves as a visual reference as it falls.

The same goes for glowing structures called photon rings, which are formed near black holes by light that has circled the hole one or more times.

A starry sky background seen from Earth completes the scene.

As the camera approaches the black hole, approaching the speed of light itself, the glow from the accretion disk and background stars is amplified, similar to the pitch of the sound of an approaching race car increasing.

If you look in the direction of travel, the light will appear brighter and whiter.

The film begins with a camera located some 640 million km (400 million miles) away, and a black hole quickly fills the field of view.

In the process, the black hole’s disk, photon ring, and night sky become increasingly distorted, even forming multiple images as light traverses an increasingly distorted space-time.

In real time, the camera takes about three hours to fall to the event horizon, performing nearly two full 30-minute orbits along the way. But for those observing from afar, it will never get there.

As the space-time distortion increases as you approach the horizon, the camera’s image slows down and appears to stop in front of you. This is why astronomers originally called black holes “frozen stars.”

At the event horizon, even space-time itself flows inward at the speed of light, the speed limit of the universe.

Once inside, both the camera and the spacetime it moves through hurtle towards the center of the black hole. A one-dimensional point called a singularity, where the laws of physics as we know them no longer work.

NASA’s visualization shows a camera tracking a supermassive black hole, similar in mass to that at the center of our galaxy, as it approaches, briefly orbits, and crosses the event horizon (point of no return). Masu. Image credit: J. Schnittman & B. Powell, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

“Once the camera crosses the horizon, there are only 12.8 seconds left before spaghettification destruction,” Dr. Schnitman said.

From there, the singularity is only 128,000 km (79,500 miles) away. The last leg of this voyage is over in the blink of an eye.

In another scenario, the camera orbits close to the event horizon, but never crosses it and flees to safety.

If an astronaut were to fly this six-hour round trip, and her co-worker on the mother ship was far away from the black hole, she would return 36 minutes younger than her co-worker.

That’s because time slows down when you move near a strong source of gravity or at speeds close to the speed of light.

“This situation could become even more extreme,” Dr. Schnitman says.

“If a black hole were rotating rapidly, like the one shown in the 2014 movie, interstellar, she would return many years younger than the sailors. ”

Source: www.sci.news

Study reveals sperm whale communication is more intricate than previously believed

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Sperm whale (physeter macrocephalus) They are highly social mammals that use clicks to communicate. New research shows that, just like in human language, they can combine and coordinate different clicks and rhythms to create complex calls.

Sperm whale (physeter macrocephalus). Image credit: Gabriel Barathieu / CC BY-SA 2.0 Certificate.

Communication is important for social animals to make group decisions and coordinate collaborative tasks such as foraging and raising children.

Sperm whales are social mammals that communicate with each other by clicking repeatedly.

Little else is known about sperm whales' communication systems, although some of their clicks have previously been shown to communicate their identity.

“Cetaceans are an important group for studying evolution and the development of sophisticated communication systems,” said Pratyusha Sharma, a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and colleagues.

“Among cetaceans, long-term observational studies of sperm whales describe both a culturally defined, multilayered matrilineal society and a socially transmitted communication system.”

“Sperm whales are known for their complex social and foraging behaviors, as well as their collective decision-making.”

“They communicate using codas, stereotypical sequences of three to 40 broadband clicks. Codas are exchanged when whales interact with each other and during long, deep dives foraging. .”

For the study, the authors Dominican Sperm Whale Projectthe largest repository of sperm whale data.

They analyzed the records of about 60 different whales from the eastern Caribbean sperm whale clan and used them to define a “sperm whale phonetic alphabet” of click combinations from this clan's records.

They discovered that whales' communication systems are more complex and have greater information-transfer capabilities than previously thought.

We found that the combination and structure of the generated click sequences depended on the context of the individual's conversation.

Scientists also identified a “combinatorial structure” in whale language. Whales can combine and coordinate different clicks and rhythms to create complex vocalizations, similar to human language.

“Although the function and meaning of the click combinations are still unknown, the sperm whale language could potentially express a large number of meanings,” the researchers said.

Their paper It was published in the magazine nature communications.

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P. Sharma other. 2024. Contextual and combinatorial structure in sperm whale calls. Nat Commune 15, 3617; doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-47221-8

Source: www.sci.news

Podcast reveals how reality show deceived women into believing fake Prince Harry was real

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A new retrospective podcast series has emerged, delving into the gritty and boundary-pushing world of early 2000s reality TV.

One shocking example featured on the podcast is “There’s Something About Miriam,” where six men unknowingly went on a date with a transgender woman, sparking controversy and discussion. This series gained renewed attention following the tragic death of star Miriam Rivera a decade after filming.

Pandora Sykes and Shirin Kale’s investigative series “Unreal” sheds light on the ethics and exploitation behind era-defining reality shows like Big Brother, The X Factor, The Swan, and Love Island. Similarly, Jack Peretti’s exploration of shows like “The Bachelor” and “Married at First Sight” delves into the questionable practices within the genre.

Another standout from the early 2000s, “I Want to Marry Harry,” featured single American women vying for the affection of a man they believed to be Prince Harry, but turned out to be an imposter named Matt with dyed ginger hair.

In “The Bachelor at Buckingham Palace,” TV expert Scott Bryan interviews former contestants to reveal how easily they were deceived by the absurd concept of the show.

The podcast also features insights into the competitive world of educational scholarships and a scripted drama about AI and grief from Idris and Sabrina Elba.

Holly Richardson
Television Editor Assistant

This week’s picks

Sir Lenny Henry, star of Halfway. Photo: David Bintiner/Guardian

Competition
All episodes available on Wondery+ starting Monday
Sima Oriei’s journey for a high-paying scholarship in Mobile, Alabama, is revisited, showcasing a grueling competition where one girl is crowned America’s Outstanding Young Woman and wins a $40,000 education.

Letter: Ripple Effect
Weekly episodes available
Amy Donaldson’s true crime podcast explores the mysterious murder of a young father in Utah in 1982, delving into the impact on loved ones and the quest for answers.

Incomplete
Audible, all episodes now available
Idris and Sabrina Elba’s scripted podcast raises ethical questions about AI and grief, featuring a stellar cast led by Lenny Henry.

The Long Shadow: In the Guns We Trust
Weekly episodes available
Garrett Graf’s exploration of the right to bear arms in the US, 25 years after the Columbine shooting, sheds light on the voices of gun violence survivors.

Bachelor of Buckingham Palace
Wondery+, all episodes now available
Scott Bryan’s in-depth interviews with former contestants from “I Want to Marry Harry” reveal the surprising reality behind the show’s deceptive premise.

There’s a podcast for that

Dua Lipa, host of “At Your Service.” Photo: JMEternational/Getty Images

Hannah Verdier We’ve curated the 5 best podcasts hosted by pop stars, from Tim Burgess’ listening party to Sam Smith’s poignant exploration of HIV history.

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Tool from NOAA and CDC Reveals Heat Predictions and Risk Levels

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CDC Director Mandy Cohen emphasized the importance of utilizing tools and guidelines to help individuals identify places to stay cool when air conditioning is not available, recognize symptoms of heat illness, and properly manage medications. Cohen highlighted the significance of understanding how drugs interact with heat during a press conference on Monday.

“While heat can impact our health, it is crucial to remember that heat-related illness and death are preventable,” Cohen stated.

Heat-related deaths outnumber those caused by other extreme weather events such as floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes in the United States each year. The record-breaking heat experienced last summer highlighted the threat of scorching temperatures, particularly in the South and Southwest regions of the country.

NOAA officials expressed optimism that the new resources will assist communities in preparing for the upcoming summer season. The agency anticipates above-average temperatures in May and June across the United States, indicating another hot summer ahead.

“It is never too early to start preparing for heat-related challenges,” emphasized NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad during a briefing.

NOAA’s HeatRisk tool categorizes heat risks on a scale from 0 (green) to 4 (magenta), with 4 indicating extreme and/or prolonged heat impacts. The tool considers factors such as maximum and minimum temperatures as well as the combined effects of heat during both day and night. It is tailored to provide location-specific heat outlooks as environmental conditions vary from one place to another.

The forecast also includes historical data to provide context on the predicted temperatures relative to past records during the same time of year.

NOAA National Weather Service Director Ken Graham highlighted that the HeatRisk tool can assist individuals in making informed decisions about outdoor activities based on the heat risk level. The tool aims to complement heat watches and warnings issued by government agencies by offering additional context for users.

The initial prototype of the HeatRisk tool was developed for California by the National Weather Service in 2013 and expanded to include Western states in 2017. It is currently available as a trial tool across the continental United States.

Members of the public are encouraged to submit feedback on the tool by September 30th to the National Weather Service.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Study reveals 25% of UK toddlers aged three and four have their own smartphone

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In the UK, a quarter of three and four-year-olds now own a smartphone, and even children under 13 have smartphones, according to new data. As ministers consider banning mobile phone ownership for children under 16, half of children are already using social media.

Reports from the communications regulator Ofcom show a significant increase in online activity among toddlers to school-age children, with social media usage among 5 to 7-year-olds rising from 30% to 38% in the past year. Furthermore, 76% of children in this age group are using tablets.

These findings support the arguments of those close to Rishi Sunak, urging him to regulate young children’s phone and social media usage. Discussions on potential measures are expected to begin in the coming weeks, with proposals including banning the sale of mobile phones to under-16s, enhancing parental control capabilities, and raising the minimum age for social media platforms to 16.

It is concerning that despite the age requirement of 13 for social media apps, half of children aged 3 to 12 are using at least one social media platform. Michelle Donnellan, the Tech Secretary, emphasized the importance of implementing online safety laws to protect children.

The figures underscore the negative impact of widespread social media use on children’s mental health, with a significant increase in depression and anxiety among adolescents. Experts like Jonathan Haidt recommend delaying smartphone ownership until the age of 16 to address these issues.

Tech Secretary Michelle Donnellan said the figures showed why the Government’s online safety laws were essential. Photo: Andy Lane/EPA

Child safety advocates urge action to enforce age restrictions on social media platforms. Organizations like the Molly Rose Foundation and NSPCC emphasize the need for stronger regulations to protect children online.

New data from Ofcom also reveals an increase in messaging and calling among 5 to 7-year-olds, with more children using apps like WhatsApp and TikTok. The vast majority of children aged 3 to 17 are now online, with younger children favoring tablets and older children owning smartphones.

The smartphone ownership statistics are based on a survey of 2,480 parents with children aged 3 to 17. Ofcom defines smartphones as devices that enable app download, web browsing, and online activity.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Intel reveals largest neuromorphic computer inspired by the brain at Hala Point

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Hala Point neuromorphic computer is powered by Intel’s Loihi 2 chip

Intel Corporation

Intel has developed the world’s largest neuromorphic computer, a device that aims to mimic the behavior of the human brain. The company hopes to be able to run more advanced AI models than traditional computers can run, but experts say the device will not be able to compete with, let alone surpass, the cutting-edge. says there are engineering hurdles to overcome.

Expectations for neuromorphic computers are high because they are inherently different from traditional machines. While regular computers use a processor to perform operations and store data in separate memory, neuromorphic devices use artificial neurons for both storage and calculation, similar to our brains. To do. This eliminates the need to pass data between components, which can be a bottleneck in today’s computers.

This architecture has the potential to result in much greater energy efficiency, and Intel says its new Hala Point neuromorphic computer will solve an optimization problem that involves finding an optimal solution to a problem given certain constraints. It claims to use 100 times less energy than traditional machines when running. It also trains and runs AI models that use chains of neurons, similar to how a real brain processes information, rather than mechanically passing input through each layer of artificial neurons as in current models. New methods may also become possible.

Hala Point contains 1.15 billion artificial neurons across 1152 Loihi 2 chips, capable of 380 trillion synaptic operations per second. mike davis Despite this power, Intel says it takes up only six racks of space in a standard server case, which is about as much space as a microwave oven. Larger machines will also be possible, Davis said. “We built a system of this scale because, honestly, one billion neurons was a good number,” he says. “So there were no special technical engineering challenges that would cause us to stop at this level.”

No other existing machine can match Harapoint’s scale, but Deep South, a neuromorphic computer due for completion later this year, is said to be capable of 228 trillion synaptic operations per second.

The Loihi 2 chip is still a prototype that Intel has produced in small numbers, but Davis said the real bottleneck is the processing required to take a real-world problem, translate it into a format that can run on a neuromorphic computer, and run it. It is said to be in the software layer. process. This process, like neuromorphic computing in general, is still in its infancy. “Software is a big limiting factor,” he says. That means there’s still little point in building a large machine.

Intel has suggested that machines like Hala Point could create AI models that continuously learn, rather than having to be trained from scratch to learn new tasks like current models do. Masu.but james knight Researchers at the University of Sussex in the UK dismissed this as “hype”.

Knight points out that current models like ChatGPT are trained using graphics cards running in parallel, which means many chips can be used to train the same model. But since neuromorphic computers operate on a single input and cannot be trained in parallel, it could take decades to even initially train something like ChatGPT on such hardware. He says it’s expensive, let alone come up with a way to enable continuous learning once it’s up and running.

Although current neuromorphic hardware is not suitable for training large-scale AI models from scratch, Davis said that one day pre-trained models could be used to learn new tasks over time. He said he hopes it will be possible. “Although this method is still in the research phase, this is a kind of continuous learning problem that large-scale neuromorphic systems like Hala Point can solve in a very efficient way in the future. “It’s considered,” he says.

Knight said neuromorphic computers could solve many other computer science problems as the tools needed for developers to write software for these problems to run on their own hardware become more mature. We are optimistic that we can improve this and increase efficiency at the same time.

It may also offer a better path toward human-level intelligence, also known as artificial general intelligence (AGI), although many AI experts believe that large-scale language models that power things like ChatGPT I think it’s impossible. “I think it’s becoming less and less of a controversial opinion,” Knight says. “The dream is that one day neuromorphic computing will allow us to create brain-like models.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Reveals your proximity to the mouse right now

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This longstanding claim has been circulating for over a century, but its origins remain a mystery. Experts unanimously debunk this myth as completely untrue, unless you happen to reside in a sewer system.

One of the challenges is the limited knowledge about the secretive behaviors and populations of rats.

According to the 2018 Natural England report, Britain’s rat population is estimated to be 7 million, while the British Pest Control Association suggests it could be as high as 120 million.

Regardless of the exact numbers, rats in the UK are not evenly distributed. Certain regions, like parts of the Scottish Highlands, have no rat presence at all, and encountering a rat in the middle of the English countryside is rare unless you’re near a barn.

Rats are seen as symbiotic creatures, living in close proximity to humans and feeding off their resources. Even in urban settings like London, the true rat population remains a mystery.

In 2012, Dave Cowan, head of the wildlife program at the Food and Environmental Research Agency, stated in the BBC that around 3.5 million rats inhabit British cities.

However, some pest control experts, albeit biased, claim that London alone harbors 20 million rats.

To put this into perspective, if the 20 million rats were evenly spread across London’s 1,572km2 area, each rat would cover 78.6 million square feet. This would suggest that you are likely within 5 meters of a rat at any given time.

With a more conservative estimate of 3 million rats, the nearest one would be approximately 13 meters away.

Dispelling a popular belief, a 2023 study revealed that there are actually fewer than 3 million rats in New York City, roughly equating to one rat for every three residents. Read more here.

Rats tend to congregate where food sources are plentiful, such as near trash bins, eateries, and markets, as well as in less traversed areas like sewers, abandoned structures, and construction sites.

They typically stay at ground level and within 200 meters of their birthplace, making it relatively feasible to avoid encountering them in certain areas.

This article addresses the question posed by Esther Lamb of Worthing: “Is it true that you are always within 6 feet of a rat?”

If you have any inquiries, please reach out to us via email at: questions@sciencefocus.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (be sure to include your name and location).

Explore more:

  • From dreams to life-saving scents: 13 rat-related facts based on science
  • Search and rescue rats trained to locate earthquake victims amidst debris
  • Skin cell alterations enable blind mice to regain sight

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Research reveals that spending time with a dog can enhance focus

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Owning a dog can bring happiness, but recent research suggests that spending time with your furry friend can also have a positive impact on your brain function, enhancing focus and creativity.

Various studies have explored the connection between mood, hormone levels, and interactions with dogs. This new study delved deeper by using electroencephalography (EEG) scans to monitor brain activity while participants engaged with their dogs, resulting in unexpected findings.

During the study, participants interacted with a trained 4-year-old poodle that had a “compatible personality.” Researchers from Konkuk University in South Korea found that participants experienced increased brain wave activity when engaging with the dogs. The study, published in the journal Pro Swan, involved 30 participants who performed various activities with the poodles.

The researchers noted that activities like walking or playing with the dogs strengthened alpha-band brain wave oscillations, indicating a state of relaxation. On the other hand, activities such as grooming and gentle massages led to increased beta-band vibrations, associated with improved concentration.

Even participants without pets experienced these benefits, suggesting that interacting with dogs can positively impact brain activity regardless of pet ownership. However, it’s worth considering that the participants likely had an existing interest in dogs, potentially influencing the results.

Researchers hope this study will spark further investigation into using service dogs to provide physiological benefits like reducing anxiety in various environments. They see potential for animal-assisted interventions to improve well-being in places like hospitals and schools.

“This study offers valuable insights into the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of animal-assisted interventions,” stated the researchers.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

ElmonX Reveals First Ever NFT of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” – Latest in Blockchain News, Opinion, TV and Job Listings

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London, UK, February 26, 2024, Chainwire

Starting March 1st at 9am PT on OpenSea.io

Elmon X We are proud to announce the upcoming release of 'scream' Written by Edvard Munch.

Digital collectibles platform ElmonX has announced a collaboration to launch one unique drop licensed by Bridgeman Images.

“The Scream”, 1895 (Lito), Munch, Edvard (1863–1944)/Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois, USA/Bridgeman Images.

Important information about Moderate:

General sale: Friday, March 1st at 9am PT Price: 0.075 Eth (purchase limit 3 per wallet) Edition: 780 (36 reserved) License: Bridgeman Images Availability: Worldwide OpenSea.io

Previous NFTs released through ElmonX include Leonardo da Vinci's “Mona Lisa” (1503), Van Gogh's “The Starry Night” (1889), Auguste Rodin's “The Thinker” (1904), Includes iconic artwork such as Claude Monet's “Nympheas” 1907.

Edvard Munch is world-famous for his series of works entitled “The Scream.” This 1895 lithograph representation of his was created using his unique printmaking technique and captures a haunting scene of existential despair against a swirling sky. Interpreted as a powerful symbol of anxiety and human confusion, it represents Munch's expressionist style. Licensed by Bridgeman Images and housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, the work's inscription adds depth to its historical significance.

This is your first opportunity to own “The Scream 1895 (Litho)” digital collection as a 3D premium digital art piece by ElmonX. Holders can view and interact with NFTs in augmented reality.

There will be a limited edition release with only 780 collectibles available. A collector can acquire these exclusive digital collectibles using a credit card or his ETH. OpenSea.io.

The sale begins on OpenSea.io on Friday, March 1st at 9am PT on a first-come, first-served basis.

About Elmon

ElmonX specializes in creating licensed NFT (non-fungible token) art. Our team of skilled artists and designers creates work that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also technologically advanced. By leveraging blockchain technology, ElmonX is creating the next generation of aesthetically pleasing and verified collectibles and artwork through a unique and transparent way for art collectors to invest in and display their collections. can be provided.

The company's focus on art, next-generation collectibles and artifacts reflects its commitment to staying at the forefront of the art world and pushing boundaries and breaking new ground. ElmonX's NFT art represents a new era in art collecting. As blockchain technology gains momentum, the demand for digital assets and collectibles is increasing.

ElmonX gives collectors a new way to appreciate and showcase their love of art by creating licensed NFT art. Whether you are a seasoned art collector or a newcomer to the world of NFTs, ElmonX's work is sure to captivate and inspire.

About Bridgeman Images

ElmonX has partnered with Bridgeman Images to bring “The Scream, 1895 (litho)” to the world of digital collectibles. Bridgman is one of the world's leading experts in the distribution of art, cultural and historical images, and reproduction footage. With 50 years of experience, we offer images from the most famous museums, collections and artists. Their property collection spans centuries and mediums including disciplines, geography, contemporary art, fine art, photography, textiles, sculpture, maps, documentary footage, and more.

To stay updated, users can follow ElmonX on social media. https://linktr.ee/elmonx

For complete information please visit: https://elmonx.com/

contact

CEO
Jacob Elmon
Elmon X
support@elmonx.com

Source: the-blockchain.com

Australia reveals the discovery of two new native rat species

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genus mouse pseudosyndrome It is one of the few terrestrial placental mammals to have established itself in Australia without human intervention.

The delicate rat of the Pilbara (Pseudomys pyruvalensis). Image credit: Ian Boole.

of Native little mouse (Pseudomys delicaturus)The mouse, also known as the delicate mouse, was previously thought to be a single species that spread across a vast country, from the Pilbara in Western Australia, across parts of the Northern Territory, through Queensland to the New South Wales border. It was getting worse.

“We now know that there are actually three different species.” Dr. Emily Roycroftresearcher. Australian National University.

“Thanks to new genetic technology, we now identify not one but three species of these delicate mice.”

“Identifying undescribed species and giving them official names will go a long way in ensuring they are properly managed.”

“Although it may be difficult for amateurs to tell the species apart, this discovery is important for the future of this small mouse.”

“The two new species did not receive conservation or research attention because we did not know they were there.”

“For example, we don't know whether population declines were not detected as a result of all three species being assessed as a single unit.”

“This delicate rat was not a priority for conservation, but that's because the distribution of the rat was thought to be three times larger than it actually is. That would allow for a reassessment.”

“Sensitive mice differ from the mice you encounter in your home or backyard in several important ways.”

“Mus musculus, black rats and brown rats are non-native species that have been introduced to Australia since European colonization.”

“Evolutionarily and ecologically, they are very different from native rodents. They compete with our native species for resources.”

“Delicate mice are part of a group of native rodents that have evolved in Australia over the past five million years. They are an important part of Australia's natural environment and ecosystem.”

“The delicate mouse is Australia's smallest rodent. Weighing only 6 grams, it's really small.”

Researchers also discovered that the delicate mice were able to adapt well to their environment, whether it was an arid desert or a forest.

“These three species will now be referred to by common names that reflect their habitat: Western or Pilbara delicate mouse, Eastern delicate mouse and Northern delicate mouse,” they said. Stated.

The team's paper is journal molecular ecology.

_____

emily roycroft other. 2024. Rapid speciation of the Australian delicate mouse. molecular ecologyin press

Source: www.sci.news

Research reveals that apes lack a good sense of humor

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Have you ever tapped someone on the far shoulder only to see them spin the wrong way, and then do it again immediately? Why is this funny? You might think that it’s an inherent human trait to find things like this funny, and that complex communication and context are needed for a gag to work, but you’d be wrong.

New research published in today’s journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B found evidence of monkey business (sorry) in four species of great apes, shedding light on the evolutionary origins of humor.

The findings suggest that the playful teasing exhibited by 8-month-old human children may have deeper roots in our primate relatives than previously thought.

Such behavior involves intentionally subverting the expectations of others. Examples include repeatedly offering and withdrawing goods, or intentionally disrupting another person’s activities by creating an element of surprise.

To understand these behaviors, the researchers observed spontaneous social interactions among populations of orangutans, chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas. They in turn analyzed everything from the teasing person’s body movements and facial expressions to how the target of the teasing (the teasing person?) reacts.

In addition to this, the researchers investigated whether the teasing behavior was targeted at specific individuals, whether it continued or escalated over time, and whether the teasing behavior was waiting for a response from the target. We tried to investigate the intentions behind the teasing.

“Our findings support the idea that teasing great apes is a provocative, purposeful, and often playful behavior.” Isabel Romersaid the postdoctoral researcher and lead author of the study. BBC Science Focus. “It is usually asymmetric and can take a variety of forms with varying proportions of playful and aggressive characteristics.”

In total, the researchers identified 18 distinct teasing behaviors. These include repeatedly shaking or brandishing objects in the center of the target’s visual field, hitting or poking them, staring into their faces, and pulling their hair. How fascinating!

Unlike play exhibited by all animals in the animal kingdom, playful teasing has several unique characteristics. “Apes’ playful teasing is one-sided and mostly comes from teasing,” he explained. Erica Cartmill Senior author of the study.

“Animals also rarely use play cues, such as the primate ‘play face,’ which resembles what we call a smile, or the ‘grasping’ gesture that signals intent to play,” she continued. Ta.

Cartmill recalled seeing such behavior in apes for the first time in 2006. Then he observed a young orangutan begging his mother by repeatedly waving a stick in front of her. “It didn’t look like a joke that would fit in a stand-up special on Netflix, but it seemed like a simple joke that could be used with young human children,” she said.

Almost 20 years after this interaction, this research has provided important insights not only into great ape behavior but also into our own behavior. “Depending on the species, great apes share 97 to 99 percent of our DNA, so we have a lot in common,” Romer said.

“The existence of playful teasing in all four great apes, and its similarity to playful teasing behavior in human infants, suggests that playful teasing and its cognitive prerequisites may have been associated with the last human species at least 13 million years ago. This suggests that it may have existed in a common ancestor.

Going forward, Romer and her team will investigate whether other primates and large-brained animals tease each other in hopes of better understanding the evolution of this important (and highly entertaining) behavior. intend to do something.

About our experts

Isabel Romer I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Radolfzell/Konstanz. She is a primatologist and cognitive biologist with 10 years of experience studying great apes and Goffin parrots. Her main research areas are within physical cognition, tool use and manufacturing, tool innovation, template matching from memory, flexible multidimensional decision making based on reward quality and tool functionality. is focused on. Her work also delves into social cognition, exploring prosociality, aversion to inequality, delay of gratification, theory of mind, and playful teasing with these animal subjects. .

Erica Cartmill He is a professor of anthropology, cognitive science, and ethology at Indiana University. Her research bridges the fields of biology and linguistics, using both comparative and developmental methods to examine communication. Her research with great apes and humans includes observing spontaneous interactions between communication partners and employing communication games that allow for more controlled experiments. Her research focuses specifically on whether gestures played a role in the origin of human language.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

North Korea and Iran have been found using AI for hacking, Microsoft reveals

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Microsoft announced on Wednesday that adversaries of the United States, primarily Iran and North Korea, and to a lesser extent Russia and China, are starting to take advantage of generative artificial intelligence to launch or coordinate offensive cyber operations.

Microsoft disclosed that it collaborated with business partner OpenAI to identify and prevent numerous threats exploiting the AI technology it developed.

In a blog post, the company stated that these techniques are still in their early stages and are not particularly novel or unique, but they do broaden the capabilities of U.S. rivals to use large-scale language models to infiltrate networks and exert influence, emphasizing the importance of publicly exposing this.

Cybersecurity companies have been using machine learning to detect anomalous behavior within networks for years, but the introduction of OpenAI’s ChatGPT-led large-scale language model has intensified the cat-and-mouse game, as both criminals and aggressive hackers are leveraging it.

Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI is substantial, and the company noted in its announcement on Wednesday that generative AI is anticipated to power malicious social engineering and lead to the development of more advanced deepfakes and voice clones, at a time when disinformation is on the rise and threats to democracy are rampant, with more than 50 countries holding elections in a year.

Microsoft provided examples of how adversaries were using large-scale language models, including the disabling of AI accounts and assets for specific groups.

The North Korean cyber-espionage group known as Kimsky used the model to study foreign think tanks and generate content for spear-phishing hacking campaigns.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps utilized large-scale language models for social engineering, troubleshooting software issues, and researching ways to bypass detection on compromised networks, using phishing emails and accelerated email creation.

The Russian military intelligence unit, Fancy Bear, employed the model to study satellite and radar technology potentially linked to the Ukraine war.

China’s cyber-espionage group known as Aquatic Panda targeted various industries, higher education, and governments from France to Malaysia, with limited exploration of how large-scale language models can enhance technical operations, and another Chinese group, Maverick Panda, interacted with the model to gather information on high-profile individuals and regions.

On another blog, OpenAI announced that its current GPT-4 model chatbots are “limited to malicious cybersecurity tasks beyond what is already achievable with publicly available non-AI-powered tools,” a situation that cybersecurity researchers aim to change.

Jen Easterly, head of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, informed Congress of the growing threat from China and the potential impact of artificial intelligence, stressing the need to develop AI with security in mind.

Amidst concerns about the irresponsible release of large language models, Microsoft and other companies are facing criticism for not taking focused action to address vulnerabilities, which has disappointed some cybersecurity experts who advocate for creating more secure underlying models to counter potential misuse.

Edward Amoroso, a professor at New York University and former AT&T chief security officer, emphasized the increasingly powerful role of AI and large-scale language models as potential weapons in cyber warfare, stating that they ultimately pose a threat to every nation-state.

Source: www.theguardian.com

New study reveals hundreds of thousands of young stars in Sagittarius C region with solar mass

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Sagittarius C is located just 300 light-years from Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way.

This image of the Sagittarius C region from ESO's Very Large Telescope includes hundreds of thousands of stars. Image credit: ESO/F. Nogueras-Lara.

The center of the Milky Way is the most prolific star-forming region in the entire galaxy.

But astronomers have discovered only a fraction of the young stars they had expected. There is “fossil” evidence that many more stars than we actually see were born recently.

This is because heading to the center of the Milky Way is not an easy task. Clouds of dust and gas block the light from the star, obscuring visibility.

“On average by volume, the galactic center stands out as the most prolific star-forming environment in the galaxy,” said ESO astronomer Francisco Nogueras Lara.

“Over the past 30 million years, we have witnessed the formation of about 1 million stars.”

“But crowding and high extinction rates have hampered their discovery, and so far only a fraction of the young star's expected mass has been confirmed.”

By studying the stellar population of Sagittarius C, Dr. Lara aimed to detect young stars hidden in the galactic center.

In his research, he analyzed the following data: HAWK-I infrared measuring instrument ESO's Very Large Telescope.

He found that Sagittarius C is much richer in young stars than other regions of the galactic center.

“We found that Sagittarius C contains the solar mass of hundreds of thousands of young stars,” Dr. Lara said.

“We compared our results to a recently discovered population of young stars in Sagittarius B1, located at the opposite end of the nuclear star disk.”

“The young stars in Sagittarius C are estimated to be about 20 million years old and likely represent the next evolutionary step for the slightly younger stars in Sagittarius B1.”

“Our discovery contributes to addressing the discrepancy between the expected number of young stars at the center of galaxies and the number of detected stars, and sheds light on their evolution in this extreme environment.”

“As a secondary result, we discovered that Sagittarius C has a population of intermediate-aged stars (approximately 50% of the mass of stars between 2 billion and 7 billion years old), which is composed of a nuclear stellar disk. It does not exist in the innermost region of the world (which is dominated by stars older than 7 billion years).

“This confirms the existence of an age gradient, driving the formation of an inside-out nuclear star disk.”

of findings appear in the diary astronomy and astrophysics.

_____

F. Nogueras-Lara other. 2024. Hunt young stars at the center of the galaxy. Solar masses of hundreds of thousands of young stars in the Sagittarius C region. A&A 681, L21; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202348712

Source: www.sci.news

New Study Reveals the Superfast Spin of the Milky Way’s Supermassive Black Hole

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Sagittarius A*, the 4.3 million solar mass black hole at the center of the Milky Way, spins so fast that space-time around it is warped into the shape of a soccer ball, according to an analysis. Data collected by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and NSF's Carl G. Jansky Very Large Array.

daily other. Sagittarius A* was found to be rotating at 60% of its maximum rotational speed, which is set by matter that cannot travel faster than the speed of light. This image shows Sagittarius A* in X-ray light from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. Image credit: NASA / CXC / University of Wisconsin / Bai other.

Black holes have two fundamental properties: mass (weight) and spin (rotational speed).

Determining either of these two values ​​can tell astrophysicists a lot about black holes and their behavior.

Dr. Ruth Daly of Pennsylvania State University and colleagues applied a new method using X-ray and radio data to predict Sagittarius A*'s rotation rate based on how matter moves toward or away from the black hole. Decided.

They discovered that Sagittarius A* rotates at an angular velocity (rotations per second). Its angular velocity is about 60% of its maximum possible value, a limit set by the inability of matter to travel faster than the speed of light.

In the past, different astronomers have used different techniques to estimate the rate of rotation of Sagittarius A*, ranging from not rotating at all to rotating at near maximum speed, with mixed results.

“Our research may help answer the question of how fast our galaxy's supermassive black holes rotate,” said Dr. Daly.

“Our results show that Sagittarius A* is rotating very rapidly, which is interesting and has far-reaching implications.”

A rotating black hole pulls space-time and nearby matter into its surroundings as it rotates. Spacetime around a rotating black hole is also crushed.

If you look down at a black hole from above and follow the barrel of the jet it produces, spacetime is circular.

However, if you look at a rotating black hole from the side, spacetime looks like a soccer ball. The faster the spin, the flatter the football.

The spin of a black hole acts as an important source of energy. When a supermassive black hole rotates, its spin energy can be extracted to produce a parallel outflow, a thin beam of matter such as a jet, but this requires at least some material near the black hole. must exist.

Because of the limited fuel surrounding Sagittarius A*, the black hole has been relatively quiet for the last several thousand years, with a relatively weak jet stream.

But new research shows that this could change as the amount of material increases near Sagittarius A*.

“A collimated jet powered by a galaxy's rotating central black hole could have a significant impact on the galaxy's entire gas supply,” said Michigan State University astronomer Megan Donahue. “This also influences the rate and uniformity with which stars form.”

“Fermi bubbles seen in X-rays and gamma rays around the Milky Way's black hole indicate that the black hole was probably active in the past. Measuring the black hole's rotation is important in this scenario. It's a test.”

To determine Sagittarius A*'s spin, astronomers looked at the black hole's spin and its mass, the nature of the matter near the black hole, and its outflow properties.

The parallel outflow produces radio waves, and the disk of gas surrounding the black hole is responsible for emitting X-rays.

Using this method, the researchers combined data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and NSF's Carl G. Jansky Very Large Array with independent estimates of the black hole's mass from other telescopes. to limit the rotation of the black hole.

“Sagittarius A* offers a special perspective because it is the closest supermassive black hole to us,” said Dr. Anand Lu, an astronomer at McGill University.

“Although it is quiet now, our research shows that in the future it will have an incredibly powerful impact on the matter around it.”

“It could happen in a thousand or million years, or it could happen in our lifetime.”

of study Published in Royal Astronomical Society Monthly Notices.

_____

Ruth A. Daly et al. 2024. New black hole spin values ​​for Sagittarius A* obtained using the outflow method. MNRAS 527 (1): 428-436; doi: 10.1093/mnras/stad3228

Source: www.sci.news

New Map Reveals Pregnancy’s Impact on Organ Interactions

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Mapping how interactions between different organs change during pregnancy could help us better understand conditions such as pre-eclampsia.

Tetra Images, LLC / Alamy

Scientists have mapped for the first time the metabolic changes that different parts of a primate's body undergo during pregnancy. The results suggest that pregnancy-related conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes may be due to “rewiring” errors when these changes occur.

Outside of pregnancy, different body systems normally “supply” each other with molecular nutrients, known as metabolites, in relatively equal exchange.

However, during pregnancy, major changes occur in tissues throughout the body. for example, Heart pumps up to 40% more. However, the thymus gland, which is involved in the immune system, “shrinks very quickly” to prevent rejection of the fetus. See Chan Ng at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.

After studying Effects of metabolites on stem cells, Ng was curious about the role they play during pregnancy. During this period, “a lot of things are growing and regenerating…It's something you only see in comic books and superhero movies where people transform,” he says.

To learn more, Ng et al. collected 273 tissue samples from 12 cynomolgus monkeys (cynomolgus monkey), including when the monkey was in each trimester of pregnancy and when it was not pregnant. Samples were taken from 23 body parts, including five areas of her body: uterus, liver, spinal cord, skin, blood and heart.

The researchers analyzed the samples for metabolites and compared each site during non-pregnancy to the equivalent site during the third trimester.

As expected, when the macaques were not pregnant, Ng said, the metabolites were distributed fairly evenly across the body. But to her surprise, pregnancy caused her interactions to be “dramatically reprogrammed.”

For example, during the first trimester, the uterus reduced communication with the heart and skeletal muscles and instead “coupled” with the developing placenta. During the second trimester of pregnancy, the fully formed placenta began pumping “large amounts of metabolites” to the heart, ovaries, and liver. On the other hand, the uterus gradually migrated towards union with the scalp by the third trimester of pregnancy.

Also, during the third trimester, important exchanges between skeletal muscles and the spinal cord took place. Researchers have not investigated why these coupling changes occur.

When the flow of “reprogrammed” metabolites deviates from what is considered normal during pregnancy, certain conditions can occur, Ng says.

In a separate experiment, researchers took serum samples from 32 pregnant women and found that levels of the metabolite corticosterone were “significantly reduced” in patients with preeclampsia, Ng said. He states: Then, when they removed corticosterone from human placental cells in the lab, they caused pre-eclampsia-like inflammation. “Corticosterone is an important steroid in human pregnancy,” says Ng. “It’s been undervalued.”

The second important metabolite is thought to be palmitoylcarnitine, which helps process fatty acids and regulate immunity. Ongoing human stem cell research led by Ng suggests that human stem cells may be involved in gestational diabetes, he says.

Based on their findings, the researchers developed an “atlas” of 91 metabolites that consistently change in the tissues of pregnant cynomolgus monkeys. This provides a framework for the involvement of metabolites in regulating health during human pregnancy, Ng said. “There is a treasure trove of small molecules and metabolites that we have discovered. [which] I hope this will further encourage research into new treatments,” he says.

Previous studies have investigated metabolic changes such as: While pregnant rats and mice do, cynomolgus monkeys have reproductive systems much more similar to humans, Ng said. Even though macaques have a shorter gestation period than humans (about 26 weeks compared to the average 40 weeks), they still serve as a reliable model for human reproduction, especially pregnancy-related conditions, he said.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Microsoft reveals exciting new Indiana Jones game

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History isn’t full of glorious Indiana Jones video games. The Fate of Atlantis, a beautiful adventure from LucasArts. A pretty good Lego game. A proper imperial tomb. A great-looking SNES side-scrolling game, Greatest Adventures… good There are games, but very few of them are classic games that transcend the brand like Knights of the Old Republic. Maybe that is about to change.

At Microsoft’s latest Developer Direct online event streamed Thursday night, we saw: 12 minute preview Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a globe-trotting first-person adventure set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The project was revealed three years ago by him, but this is the first footage we’ve seen, and what we can expect. There are Nazis, there are whips, there is Dr. Jones in the desert and in a tomb, and there is an argument with Denholm Elliott in an old university building. And it includes a story about stolen artifacts that are somehow connected to an international network of ancient sites along a circle that stretches around the world.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Photo: Microsoft/MachineGames

Interestingly, much of the lengthy promotional video shown during the event went to developer MachineGames explaining why the game uses a first-person perspective. “Our game is all about putting yourself in the shoes of an indie and letting him see what he sees and feel what he feels,” said Senior Narrator his designer Edward Curtis-Syves. says. “For us at MachineGames, it’s best to do it from a first-person perspective. We believe it’s important to experience the adventure up close.” Perhaps of concern is the appearance of Indiana Jones. is so iconic that fans may miss seeing him move around on screen. In fact, his two major game franchises, Uncharted and Tomb Raider, which owe most to Raiders of the Lost Ark, both use a third-person perspective. , Indy mimics the cinematic feel of his series.

In fact, this game is going to do a great job of crawling out from under the legacies of these two series. Both have worked on the cinematic, puzzle-filled action-adventure genre and established much of its promise. For example, in The Great Circle, Indy is accompanied by a hard-nosed journalist named Gina Lombardi, not unlike Elena Fisher, Nathan Drake’s partner in colonial crimes. It also looks like there will be some environmental puzzles, with one section taking place inside a tomb and requiring you to place a stone gear, presumably to open a door. This will be very familiar to anyone who has played Uncharted 3 or Tomb Raider, for example. : Anniversaries and adventures inspired by Indiana Jones. The video also promises multiple routes through key set-piece locations, including the chance to sneak in and study enemy patrol routes. Again, Nathan and Lara have been doing this for years.

But this is MachineGames’ brilliant reboot of the Wolfenstein series. It’s a studio that’s used to taking established concepts and giving them strange new twists. For those worried about not seeing Indie on screen, the team brought real detail and character to protagonist BJ Blazkowicz, who rarely appears in games.And we teeth Go see Indy. The video highlights that the camera switches to a third-person perspective during certain sections of gameplay, and of course there’s a very convincing Harrison Ford model present in the cutscenes. The character is expertly voiced by video game actor Troy Baker, best known for his role as Joel in The Last of Us.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Photo: Microsoft/MachineGames

More promising, however, is the implementation of classic Indie tropes. It seems that his whip can be used not only as a weapon but also as a crossing device, and you can enjoy full-fledged punching with thunderous punch sound effects. Additionally, the arrogant Nazi antagonist Emmerich Voss is a classic indie film. It’s also great to see the role of horror movie stalwart Tony Todd, who is seen stealing a seemingly minor artifact from Indy’s workplace, Marshall University, at the beginning of the game.

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It seems unfair that Great Circle has to contend with two games that plundered Indiana Jones’ treasure trove of ideas, images, and action. But of course, what’s there is the Lucasfilm legacy: the character and his worldview, the whip, that score, and decades of goodwill. Additionally, MachineGames is a really interesting studio that isn’t afraid of compelling and idiosyncratic ideas. Indy is going to need a lot of them if it’s going to win against the young usurpers.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is scheduled to release on Xbox and PC later this year

Source: www.theguardian.com

Meta Report Reveals 100,000 Children Experience Daily Sexual Harassment on Online Platforms

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According to an internal document released late Wednesday, Meta estimates that about 100,000 children on Facebook and Instagram are subjected to online sexual harassment every day, including “pictures of adult genitalia.” The unsealed legal filings include several allegations against Meta, based on information the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office learned from presentations and communications between Meta employees. These allegations describe an incident in 2020 in which the 12-year-old daughter of an Apple executive was solicited via Instagram’s messaging product, IG Direct.

In testimony before the US Congress late last year, a senior Meta employee described how his daughter was recruited through Instagram. His efforts to resolve the issue were ignored, he said. This suit is the latest in a series of lawsuits filed by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office on December 5, alleging that Meta’s social network has become a marketplace for child predators. The state’s attorney general, Raul Torrez, accused Meta of allowing adults to find, send messages to, and groom children. Meta released a statement in response to Wednesday’s filing, stating, “We want to provide teens with a safe and age-appropriate online experience, and we have over 30 tools to support them and their parents.”

The lawsuit also referenced a 2021 internal presentation on child safety, in which Meta states that it has “poorly invested in the sexual expression of minors on IG, with significant sexual commentary on content posted by minors.” The complaint also highlights Meta employees’ concerns about the safety of children. Meta’s statement also said the company “has taken significant steps to prevent unwanted contact from teens, especially adults.”

The New Mexico lawsuit follows a Guardian investigation in April that revealed how Meta failed to report or detect the use of its platform for child trafficking. According to documents included in the lawsuit, Meta employees “coordinate human trafficking operations” and ensure that “every step of human exploitation (recruitment, conditioning, and exploitation) is expressed on our platform.” But an internal email from 2017 said executives opposed scanning Facebook Messenger for “harmful content,” citing the service’s desire to “provide more privacy.” In December, Meta received widespread criticism for introducing end-to-end encryption for messages sent via Facebook and Messenger.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Study reveals new organizational structure of water molecules on the surface of salt water

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The distribution of ions at the air-water interface plays a decisive role in many natural processes. Some studies suggest that large ions tend to exhibit interfacial activity, suggesting that the ions sit above the water surface, thereby inducing an electric field that determines the interfacial water structure. But new research by chemists at the University of Cambridge and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research casts doubt on this view. Their results show that ions in typical electrolyte solutions are actually located in subsurface regions and that such interfaces stratify into two characteristic aqueous layers.

Littman other. They show that the ions and water molecules at the surface of most aqueous salt solutions, known as electrolyte solutions, are organized in a completely different way than previously understood.Image credit: Littmann other., doi: 10.1038/s41557-023-01416-6.

Many important reactions related to climate and environmental processes occur where water molecules come into contact with air.

For example, ocean water evaporation plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry and climate science.

Understanding these responses is critical to efforts to reduce human impact on the planet.

The distribution of ions at the air-water interface can influence atmospheric processes. However, accurately understanding the microscopic reactions at these important interfaces has been hotly debated.

Dr. Yair Littman of the University of Cambridge and his colleagues set out to study how water molecules are affected by the distribution of ions at the very point where air and water meet.

Traditionally, this has been done with a technique called oscillatory sum frequency generation (VSFG).

Using this laser irradiation technique, it is possible to directly measure molecular vibrations at these key interfaces.

However, while the strength of the signal can be measured, this technique does not measure whether the signal is positive or negative, which has previously made the results difficult to interpret. Furthermore, using only experimental data can lead to ambiguous results.

The authors overcame these challenges by utilizing a more sophisticated form of VSFG, called heterodyne detection (HD)-VSFG, to study different electrolyte solutions.

We then developed sophisticated computer models to simulate the interface in various scenarios.

The combined results showed that both positively charged ions, called cations, and negatively charged ions, called anions, are depleted from the water-air interface.

The cations and anions of simple electrolytes orient water molecules both upward and downward.

This is a reversal of the textbook model that teaches that ions form an electric double layer, orienting water molecules in only one direction.

“Our study shows that the surface of a simple electrolyte solution has a different ion distribution than previously thought, and that the ion-rich subsurface determines the composition of the interface. .At the top you have a few layers of pure water, then you have the ions, the “dense layer,'' and finally the bulk salt solution,'' Dr. Littman said.

“Our paper shows that combining high-level HD-VSFG with simulation is a valuable tool that contributes to the molecular-level understanding of liquid interfaces,” said Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research researchers said Dr. Kuo-Yang Chiang. .

“These kinds of interfaces exist everywhere on Earth, and studying them not only helps our fundamental understanding, but can also lead to the development of better devices and technologies.” said Professor Misha Bonn, also of the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research.

“We are applying these same methods to study solid/liquid interfaces, which could have applications in batteries and energy storage.”

of study It was published in the magazine natural chemistry.

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Y. Littman other. Surface stratification determines the structure of interfacial water in simple electrolyte solutions. nut.chemistry, published online on January 15, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41557-023-01416-6

Source: www.sci.news

New research reveals signs that your dog may be a genius

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If your dog can distinguish between toys and doesn’t destroy them, then it may be a genius. That’s according to scientists who have identified a unique type of genius dog and have found that it all depends on how well they know their toys. You can read more about it here.

The dogs referred to by the researchers behind this study are known as gifted word learner (GWL) dogs. They know the names of their toys and can retrieve them on command. In fact, they can learn words very quickly and have been found to be incredibly rare.

One of the first organizations to closely examine the characteristics of these dogs, using a sample of 41 dogs from nine countries, was the Eötvös Lorand University (ELTE) in Hungary. The results showed that the genius dogs knew the names of 29 toys on average, but many of them knew over 100 of their toys by the end of the study.

Max, one of the genius dogs studied, knows the names of over 200 toys. Max, a 5-year-old male border collie, is from Hungary. – Photo credit: Ildiko Gyenes

To confirm that these dogs were real, the researchers first asked owners to send in videos of their dogs retrieving toys by name. After this stage, the researchers met with owners in a “virtual lab” to test the toy retrieval in more controlled conditions.

The study conducted by ELTE revealed that GWL dog owners reported that their talented pups were able to learn the names of new toys within 30 minutes. It became clear that certain breeds, such as Border Collies, were more likely to have this talent than others. However, no special training is required to own a GWL dog.

These dogs are so rare that it took researchers five years to find 41 dogs in nine countries using social media. You can watch their experiments here.

“GWL dogs are so rare that until now we only had anecdotes about their background.” – Professor Adam Miklosi, head of the Department of Animal Behavior at ELTE

For more information, read more

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Hackers in 2023 stole $2 billion worth of cryptocurrencies, reveals data

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Over the course of another year, hackers stole billions of dollars in cryptocurrencies. However, the cryptocurrency security firm says it is on the decline for the first time since 2020.

According to Web3 security firm De.FI, hackers have stolen about $2 billion worth of cryptocurrencies in dozens of cyberattacks and thefts this year. Rekt leaderboard. The site ranks the worst crypto hacks of all time, from the 2022 Ronin network breach, in which hackers stole more than $600 million in crypto, to this year’s big-money hack of Mixin Network. It is attached. The hacker made about $200 million.

“This amount, while spread across a variety of incidents, highlights the persistent vulnerabilities and challenges within the DeFi ecosystem,” De.Fi said in the report, which the company reported on TechCrunch shared. “2023 was a year that demonstrated both the ongoing vulnerabilities and the progress made in addressing them, even though the first half of the year saw a relative lack of interest in the sector due to the bear market. .”

In early December, blockchain intelligence company TRM Labs also announced Announcing estimated value of stolen virtual currency By hackers this year. According to the company, the total amount as of mid-December was approximately $1.7 billion.

Other worst cryptocurrency thefts this year include the hack into Euler Finance, where hackers stole nearly $200 million. Also included were major hacks of Multichain ($126 million), BonqDAO ($120 million), Poloniex ($114 million), Atomic Wallet ($100 million), and more.

Last year, a blockchain monitoring company Chainalysis reported that cybercriminals stole an all-time record of approximately $3.8 billion In code. $1.7 billion of that was stolen by North Korean government hackers known as the Lazarus Group, one of the most prolific crypto theft groups, as part of efforts to fund the regime’s sanctioned nuclear weapons program. .

“It is no exaggeration to say that crypto hacking represents a significant portion of this country’s economy,” Chainalysis said in a report last year.

The previous year, in 2021, hackers stole $3.3 billion. According to Chainalysis,

It is impossible to predict what will happen in 2024. However, given the insufficient security implemented by many cryptocurrencies and Web3 projects and the enormous monetary value they hold, Discussed at TechCrunch Disrupt earlier this yearit is expected that hackers will continue to target growing industries.

Source: techcrunch.com

Hubble’s remarkable clarity reveals ring-spoke phenomenon

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This photo of Saturn was taken by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope on , when the ringed planet was about 850 million miles from Earth. Hubble’s razor-sharp vision reveals a phenomenon called ring spokes.

Saturn’s spokes are temporary features that rotate with the rings. Their ghostly appearance only lasts for two or three revolutions around Saturn. During the active period, newly formed spokes continually add to the pattern.

Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, Amy Simon (NASA-GSFC)

Floating Dust rides a merry-go-round around a huge ring world

However Saturn

Its unusual-looking “cup-handle” feature was first noted by Galileo in 1610, but it took another 45 years before it was described by Christian Huygens as a disk surrounding Saturn. Ground-based telescopes were then able to identify only four unique concentric circles, labeled A, B, C, and D. It could not be identified until the 1980s. NASA

The two Voyager spacecraft will fly close to Saturn and photograph thousands of concentric ringlets. An even bigger surprise for Voyager scientists was the dark, radial, spoke-like pattern on the ring’s surface that moved back and forth as it orbited Saturn.

Over the past 30 years, hubble space telescope Voyager picked up where it left off. Hubble’s ultra-clear vision is the next best thing to being there. Hubble follows a “merry-go-round” of ring spokes every year. The black spokes are believed to be dust particles suspended by static electricity above the ring surface. They seem to vary richly depending on the seasons of Saturn’s seven years. And this may be related to changes in Saturn’s magnetic field, which is influenced by the solar wind.

This is an annotated version of the image above. Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, Amy Simon (NASA-GSFC)

Hubble Space Telescope observes Saturn’s ‘spokes season’

This photo of Saturn was taken by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope on , when the ringed planet was about 850 million miles from Earth. Hubble’s razor-sharp vision reveals a phenomenon called ring spokes.

Saturn’s spokes are temporary features that rotate with the rings. Their ghostly appearance only lasts for two or three revolutions around Saturn. During the active period, newly formed spokes continually add to the pattern.

In , NASA’s Voyager 2 took the first photo of a ring spoke. NASA’s cassini The orbiter also sighted spokes during its 13-year mission, which ended in 2017.

Hubble continues to observe Saturn every year as its spokes come and go. This cycle is captured by Hubble’s Outer Planet Atmospheric Legacy (OPAL) program, which was launched nearly a decade ago to annually monitor weather changes on all four gas giants.

Hubble’s clear images show that the frequency of the spokes’ appearance is seasonal, and they appeared in the OPAL data for the first time in , but only on the morning (left) side of the ring. Long-term monitoring has shown that both the number and contrast of spokes change with Saturn’s seasons. Saturn’s axis is tilted like Earth’s, and its seasons last about seven years.

“We’re heading towards the Saturn equinox, when the spokes are expected to be at their most active, and will remain active for several years to come,” said Amy Simon, OPAL program principal scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “We expect higher frequencies and darker spokes to appear.” .

This year, these ephemeral structures will appear on both sides of the Earth simultaneously, rotating around the giant world. Although it appears small compared to Saturn, its length and width can extend to more than Earth’s diameter.

“The leading theory is that the spokes are connected to Saturn’s strong magnetic field, and that the Sun is somehow interacting with that field to create the spokes,” Simon said. As Saturn approaches its vernal equinox, Saturn and its rings tilt less away from the Sun. In this configuration, the solar wind could hit Saturn’s massive magnetic field even harder, promoting spoke formation.

Planetary scientists believe that the electrostatic forces generated by this interaction cause the dust and ice to float above the ring, forming the spokes, but even after decades, no theory can fully predict the spokes. . Continued Hubble observations may ultimately help solve the mystery.

The Hubble Space Telescope is an international cooperative project between NASA and ESA. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, conducts science operations for Hubble and Webb. STScI is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Astronomical Research in Washington, DC.

Source: scitechdaily.com

Report reveals former employee’s criticism of Instagram chief Adam Mosseri’s track record on youth safety

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Instagram boss Adam Mosseri has announced that his employees, even as parent company Meta Inc. faces increased legal scrutiny over concerns that the popular social media app is harming young users, have reportedly prevented or weakened the implementation of youth safety features. Mosseri, whose name frequently appears in a high-profile lawsuit brought by 33 states accusing Meta of having addictive features in its apps that harm the mental health of young people, reportedly ignored “pressure from employees” to install some of its safety features as default settings for Instagram users. According to the information.

Meta-owned Instagram and Facebook say their use is fueling a number of worrying trends among young people, including an increase in depression, anxiety, insomnia, body image issues, and eating disorders. This claim has drawn criticism from critics.

Despite this, Instagram executives have rejected pressure from members of the company’s “welfare team” to include app features that encourage users to stop comparing themselves to others, according to three former employees with knowledge of the details. The feature was implemented despite Mosseri himself acknowledging in an internal email that he considered “social comparisons” to be “an existential problem facing Instagram” and that “social comparisons are for Instagram.” It wasn’t done. [what] According to the state’s complaint, the election interference is against Facebook.

Adam Mosseri was appointed as the head of Instagram in 2018. Reuters

Additionally, a Mosseri-backed feature that addresses the “social comparison” problem by hiding Instagram like counts will eventually be “watered down” and an option that users can manually enable. The report states that this has been set up.

Internally, some employees have reportedly pointed out that the “like hiding” tool would hurt engagement in the app, resulting in less advertising revenue.

While some sources praised Mosseri’s efforts to promote youth safety, one told the magazine that Instagram has a pattern of making such features optional rather than automatically implementing them. There was also

A Meta spokesperson did not specifically answer questions about why the company rejected proposals for tools to combat problems arising from social comparison issues.

“We don’t know what triggers a particular individual to compare themselves to others, so we give people the tools to decide for themselves what they do and don’t want to see on Instagram. ,” a Meta spokesperson told the publication.

A coalition of state attorneys general is suing Instagram and Facebook. shutter stock

Mehta did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Post.

Elsewhere, Mosseri allegedly objected to the use of a tool that automatically blocks offensive language in direct message requests. The reason for this, The Information reported, citing two former employees, was “because we thought it might prevent legitimate messages from being sent.”

Finally, Instagram approved an optional “filter” feature in 2021, allowing users to block the company’s curated list of offensive words or compile their own list of offensive phrases and emojis they’d like to block. I made it possible.

The move reportedly infuriated safety staff, including former Meta engineer Arturo Bejar. They believed that people of color should not be forced to confront offensive language in order to address the problem. In November, Mr. Behar testifies before Senate committee About harmful content on Instagram.

“I returned to Instagram with the hope that Adam would be proactive about addressing these issues, but there was no evidence of that in the two years I was there,” Bejart said, initially starting Meta in 2015. He retired in 2007 and returned to a safety management role. the team told the outlet in 2019.

Mehta has been accused of failing to protect young social media users. Just Right – Stock.adobe.com

Meta pushed back against the report, saying Instagram has implemented a series of safety defaults for teen users, including blocking adults 19 and older from sending direct messages to teen accounts that don’t follow them. It was pointed out that the function has been introduced.

For example, Meta said its tool called “Hidden Words,” which hides offensive phrases and emojis, will be enabled by default for teens starting in 2024. The company said it has announced more than 20 policies regarding teen safety since Mosseri took over Instagram. 2018.

Mosseri echoed this, writing that further investments in platform security would “strengthen our business.”

“If teens come to Instagram and feel bullied, receive unwanted advances, or see content that makes them uncomfortable, they will leave and go to a competitor.” said Mosseri. “I know how important this work is, and I know that my leadership will be determined by how much progress we make in this work. I look forward to continuing to do more.” Masu.”

Instagram, led by Adam Mosseri, has reportedly scrapped or watered down proposed safety tools. Getty Images

Mosseri was one of several meth executives who came under scrutiny as part of a major lawsuit filed in October by a coalition of 33 state attorneys general. The lawsuit claimed in part that Meta’s millions of underage Instagram users were the company’s “open secret.” The complaint includes an internal chat from November 2021 in which Mosseri appeared to acknowledge the app’s problems with underage users, saying, “Teens want access to Instagram. , who is my age and wants to get Instagram right now.”

A month later, Mosseri testified before the Senate that children under 13 “are not allowed to use Instagram.” He also told MPs that he believes online safety for young people is “very important”.

Separate from the state legal challenges, Meta is facing a separate lawsuit from New Mexico, alleging it failed to protect young people from alleged sex offenders and flooded them with adult sex material. confronting.

Source: nypost.com

Hubble’s Holiday Globe Reveals 1 Billion Stars, Says NASA

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In this festive Hubble Space Telescope image from NASA and ESA (European Space Agency), the galaxy UGC 8091 resembles a sparkling snow globe filled with a billion stars. Credits: ESA/Hubble, NASA, ESA, Yumi Choi (NSF’s NOIRLab), Karoline Gilbert (STScI), Julianne Dalcanton (Center for Computational Astrophysics/Flatiron Institute, Washington)

Dwarf irregular galaxies are born and dazzling stars are born

Hubble’s colorful snapshots show that the universe always seems to be in the holiday spirit. The dwarf irregular galaxy UGC 8091 is a rich example. A dizzying interplay of matter and energy bubbles up to create a dazzling blue, newborn star that looks like a celebratory string of lights. They are encased in a glowing cocoon of hot pink hydrogen gas. A galaxy is a collection of about 1 billion stars. That sounds like a lot, but it’s one-hundredth of the number of stars in our adult bodies. milky way Galaxy.

This little galaxy came late to the party. The early universe was filled with dwarf galaxies, which eventually merged to form the magnificent spiral galaxies that surround us today. Seven million light-years away, UGC 8091 has only recently begun to display its glittering tapestry.

The Hubble Space Telescope is an iconic symbol of space exploration, launched into orbit in 1990. Hubble revolutionized astronomy by providing unprecedented clarity and deep views of the universe, far beyond the distortions of Earth’s atmosphere. Credit: NASA

Hubble Space Telescope presents a starry sky for Christmas

The billion stars of galaxy UGC 8091 resemble sparkling snow globes during this festival. hubble space telescope Images from NASA and ESA (European Space Agency).

The dwarf galaxy is located in the constellation Virgo, about 7 million light-years from Earth. It is considered an “irregular galaxy” because it does not have a regular spiral or elliptical appearance. Rather, the stars that make up this cluster look more like a tangle of bright string lights than a galaxy.

Some irregular galaxies are entangled due to tumultuous internal activity, while others are formed by interactions with neighboring galaxies. The result is a class of galaxies of varying size and shape, including those whose stars are diffuse and scattered.

A combination of 12 camera filters produced this image using light from the mid-ultraviolet to the red end of the visible spectrum. The red spots are likely interstellar hydrogen molecules, excited by the light from the hot, energetic star and glowing. The other sparkles you see in this image are old star combinations. A diverse array of distant galaxies appears in the background, captured by Hubble’s sharp field of view.

The data used in this image was taken by Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 and Advanced Survey Camera from 2006 to 2021.

Among other things, the observing program involved in this image sought to investigate the role that dwarf galaxies billions of years ago played in reheating hydrogen that had cooled after the universe expanded. big bang.

Astronomers are also studying the composition of dwarf galaxies and their stars to uncover evolutionary connections between these ancient galaxies and more modern galaxies like ours.

The Hubble Space Telescope is an international cooperation project between the two countries. NASA And ESA. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, conducts science operations for Hubble and Webb. STScI is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Astronomical Research in Washington, DC.

Source: scitechdaily.com

New research reveals the potential of using short audio recordings as a diagnostic tool for diabetes | Latest Findings in Science and Technology

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New research has found that diabetes may be diagnosed with just a short audio recording from a mobile phone.

Scientists can determine whether someone has diabetes with nearly 90% accuracy using just a 6-10 second audio sample and basic health data such as age, gender, height, and weight I created an AI model.

Klick Labs recruited 267 people for the study, including some who had already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Each subject was asked to record a phrase on their phone six times a day for two weeks, and the team used AI to analyze more than 18,000 samples to determine the acoustic differences between diabetics and non-diabetics. I looked into it.

These included changes in pitch caused by type 2 diabetes that are imperceptible to the human ear.

This model had an accuracy rate of 89% for women and 86% for men.

Study author Jaycee Kaufman said the results could “change” the way we screen for diabetes.

More than 90% of adults with diabetes in the UK have type 2 diabetes, but many go undetected for years as symptoms may be systemic or absent. I am.

Testing for this disease usually requires a visit to a general practitioner and urine and blood tests.

“Current detection methods can be time-consuming, travel-intensive, and costly,” Kaufman said.

“Voice technology has the potential to completely remove these barriers.”

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Previous research has shown that audio recordings can be used in conjunction with AI to diagnose other diseases. Including new coronavirus infection.

Klick Labs believes this technology can also diagnose conditions such as prediabetes and hypertension.

This peer-reviewed study was published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings journal.

Source: news.sky.com