Exercise reduces cancer cell size in mice—possibly applicable to humans
Alfredas Pliadis/Xinhua News Agency/Alamy
Exercise has the potential to slow tumor development in mice by altering metabolic pathways, enabling muscle cells to absorb glucose instead of cancer cells for growth. This may also occur in humans.
While it’s established that exercise lowers cancer risk and healthier individuals generally have better cancer survival rates, the underlying mechanisms are still being explored. Notably, some benefits of exercise appear linked to changes in gut microbiota and the immune system.
To examine another possible pathway, Rachel Perry and her colleagues at Yale University School of Medicine conducted an experiment on 18 mice injected with breast cancer cells. Twelve of these mice were given an obesity-inducing diet, known to accelerate various cancers. Half of the group was also equipped with a running wheel to exercise as desired.
After four weeks, tumors in the exercising obese mice were found to be 60% smaller compared to their non-exercising counterparts, and were slightly smaller than tumors in sedentary mice fed a standard diet. The study revealed that just 30 minutes of exercise led to an increase in oxygen and glucose uptake in skeletal and cardiac muscles, with a corresponding decrease in glucose assimilation by tumors.
“This research demonstrates that aerobic fitness significantly alters the metabolic rivalry between muscle and tumor,” states Perry. “Crucially, the exercise was voluntary—these mice weren’t being forced to run like marathon athletes; they exercised as per their preference.”
The scientists evaluated gene expression and identified changes in 417 genes associated with vital metabolic pathways in mice due to exercise. This indicates that muscle tissue utilizes more glucose while tumor tissue absorbs less.
Specifically, a reduction in mTOR, a protein pivotal for cancer cell proliferation, shows potential for limiting tumor expansion, according to the researchers.
Perry anticipates that these metabolic patterns, which are similar across mammals, may extend to humans, even those without obesity. In fact, analogous gene activity shifts during exercise have been documented in cancer patients.
“This points to another mechanism illustrating how exercise fosters a cancer-suppressive environment,” mentions Rob Newton from Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia. “We need to conduct clinical trials in humans, as there’s no clear reason to suspect it wouldn’t produce similar outcomes.”
Perry emphasizes that metabolism encompasses all tissues and is influenced by both the microbiome and immune responses. “These metabolic adaptations may bridge the connections between exercise, the microbiome, the immune system, and tumor progression,” she explains. “However, I’d be surprised if the positive implications of exercise stemmed from a single mechanism.”
This discussion also sheds light on why lower muscle mass heightens cancer mortality risk, as observed by Newton. “If your muscles preferentially absorb glucose, increasing muscle mass and regularly activating your muscles could yield significant advantages.”
He believes it’s crucial to view exercise not just as a lifestyle change but as an adjunctive anti-cancer intervention alongside other treatments. “Identifying primary environmental contributors to cancer is key, and we must formulate specific strategies to address them,” Newton concludes. “While enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness is beneficial, if a patient presents with notably low muscle mass, that should be prioritized with strength training.”
Claire North is a well-established author, known for writing under multiple names, but this is their inaugural foray into traditional science fiction that includes spaceships. I found the title slow gods intriguing, and the cover art appealing. I entered the narrative with elevated expectations.
It kicks off with: “My name is Maukana na Vdnadze, I am a very poor copy of myself.” A fantastic beginning.
However, I felt a bit lost after about 60 pages. While the story is crafted in a grand space opera style filled with timelines, cultures, and names—typical of the genre—I hadn’t formed a connection with the protagonist yet. The main character is an exceptional deep space pilot but struggles with a troubling history of causing fatalities. Perhaps my mood affected my reading experience. I persisted a little longer, and when the main character, Mau, encountered another figure named Gebre, I started to feel more engaged.
I’m inclined to take a leap here: please read this book. If science fiction is your thing, you’ll likely appreciate it. If you’re unsure initially, as I was, feel free to move on.
I actually have some space to elaborate on my thoughts. It’s been ages since I’ve enjoyed a science fiction piece so thoroughly. Yet, it’s more than just amusement; it’s also deeply emotional and impactful—well articulated.
North shines in creating characters with depth, along with intricate world-building and expansive plots that span galaxies. There’s humor woven throughout, and in the tradition of Ian M. Banks, there are delightful AI entities and drones that contribute to the comedic elements.
“ slow gods presents formidable villains with malicious intent and lethal weapons, including the “Black Ships” that raze cities. “
Maw is a remarkable protagonist. As a reader, it’s refreshing to have no clear idea of what the protagonist might be capable of, contemplating that it could be quite dramatic. In a pivotal moment during his first mission as a pilot, Maw dies and continues to resurrect multiple times, provided that no one witnesses or mourns his remains. It raises questions about whether Maw retains humanity or has transformed into something different.
Returning to the encounter with Gebre… Maw accepts the mission to pilot a vessel to Ajmir, a planet poised for destruction due to the impending collapse of its binary star system, LK-08091881.
A mysterious, god-like machine known as Slow had been issuing warnings about the imminent collapse of the star system, with shockwaves traveling at light speed, endangering all life within an 83 light-year radius. Unfortunately, the affected populace’s reactions were inconsistent at best. By the time Mau landed on Ajmir on its final day, countless individuals remained, hoping to win a lottery for a chance at escape.
Upon his arrival, Mau meets Gebre Netyu Chatitymska Bajwala. Currently, Gebre is somewhat “innumerable,” yet they focus less on that and more on preserving significant artifacts for future generations to understand Ajmir’s true history.
Gebre is an intriguing character, and Maw finds himself attracted to them. What steps can he take to protect Gebre? Or will he seek revenge? The groundwork has been laid.
It’s pertinent to mention that “Shines” exist as formidable villains with hostile dispositions and lethal weaponry, including “black ships” and super soldiers capable of nearly invisible city destruction.
Slow Gods often reminded me of Banks’ culture series, making it a natural “also recommended” option. I typically recommend The Player of Games to newcomers to the culture series, as it serves as an accessible starting point, being the first of Banks’ works in this universe. It follows a character named Horza, who possesses the ability to transform into perfect replicas of others. What else is there to wish for?
Emily H. Wilson is a former editor of New Scientist and the author of the Sumerian trilogy, set in ancient Mesopotamia. The concluding novel, Ninshubar, has been released. You can find her at emilywilson.com, on X @emilyhwilson, and on Instagram @emilyhwilson1
Gentle exercises, like walking, can enhance brain health
Gordon Scammell/Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Older adults, particularly those at greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease, might slow cognitive decline by walking just 3,000 steps daily. The underlying reasons for this effect remain unclear; however, it could be linked to how regular exercise influences inflammation and blood circulation in the brain.
Earlier studies connecting regular physical activity to reduced cognitive decline often depended on individuals recalling their activity levels, with limited exploration into why staying active might offer such benefits.
To overcome these constraints, Wai Ying Wendy Yau and colleagues at Harvard University objectively tracked the physical activity of 296 cognitively healthy adults aged 50 to 90 through step-counting devices over a week.
Most participants also underwent brain imaging to assess baseline levels of misfolded proteins known as tau and beta-amyloid, which are believed to contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. These levels were typically evaluated every 2 to 3 years over a follow-up duration spanning 3 to 14 years. Participants took annual cognitive tests measuring memory and processing speed.
The research team estimated exercise’s impact on cognitive decline by feeding data from step counts, brain imaging, and cognitive evaluations into a statistical model. They discovered that participants with elevated levels of misfolded beta-amyloid who walked between 3,000 to 5,000 steps daily considerably slowed tau accumulation, but not beta-amyloid.
“[Exercise is] somehow hindering the spread of tau protein, which is more closely linked to symptom onset in individuals with [Alzheimer’s disease] than amyloid beta,” remarked Charles Marshall at Queen Mary University of London.
This was associated with an approximate 40 percent reduction in cognitive decline over a nine-year average follow-up, compared to participants taking fewer than 3,000 steps daily, categorized as inactive. Researchers, however, did not have data on whether any participants were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s during the follow-up.
Conversely, walking between 5,000 and 7,500 steps daily further slowed tau buildup, leading to a 54 percent reduction in cognitive decline compared to inactivity. However, exceeding 7,500 steps daily did not result in additional cognitive improvements. “The benefits with tau and cognition eventually reach a plateau,” Yau noted.
While the exact mechanisms through which regular exercise yields these effects remain uninvestigated, potential causes may include: Physical activity that diminishes inflammation purportedly caused by beta-amyloid and tau misfolding, disrupting neural connections, and damaging cells. Moreover, exercise could enhance blood flow or boost levels of protective hormones in the brain.
Nonetheless, this study does not conclusively establish that walking 5,000 steps daily directly contributes to slowing cognitive decline. Unidentified or unnoticed pre-existing conditions might impact individuals’ capacity and enthusiasm for exercising, according to Marshall. Various lifestyle and socio-economic factors that the research team considered may also affect activity levels and tau counts.
Nevertheless, given that regular exercise offers numerous health advantages, is inexpensive, and generally has few side effects, individuals should be encouraged to aim for at least 3,000 steps daily, even if the exact impact on cognitive function remains uncertain. “I always advise people not to obsess over numeric goals for step counts. It’s merely a target,” said Marshall. “What truly matters is maintaining regular physical activity, which doesn’t have to be at large volumes or high intensity.”
Prior research suggests that consistent lifestyle alterations, including exercise, can reverse cognitive decline. However, Yau emphasizes the necessity for further studies that randomly assign participants to distinct daily step counts to differentiate the effects of exercise from other lifestyle modifications and determine whether it genuinely slows tau accumulation.
Javanese slow loris reacts while receiving snacks at Ujung Kulon National Park
Garry Rothulung
These images depict the release of Javan Slow Lorises into Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia, last month.
Photojournalist Garry Rothulung has joined the Indonesia International Animal Rescue Agency team. The nonprofit Initiatives for Environmental Rehabilitation in Indonesia (Yiari) released a Javan Slow Loris and transported the animals back to their habitat (as shown below).
Volunteers transporting Javan slow loris
Garry Rothulung
The Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus) is critically endangered due to rainforest habitat loss and being captured for the pet trade or for traditional medicine. These animals often have their teeth removed, which prevents them from eating in the wild. However, rescued individuals can be rehabilitated, and Yiari works to release them back into their natural environment.
Javan slow loris can be seen during the habituation process
Garry Rothulung
While the slow loris appears adorable, it is one of the few poisonous primates in the world. When threatened, they raise their arms to mix secretions from their elbow glands with their saliva, creating a toxic substance.
Volunteers observe slow loris in Java
Garry Rothulung
This dual-action defense mechanism is characteristic of the slow loris. While the biology of their venom is not fully understood, their bites can cause severe pain, slow healing, and may provoke allergic reactions. The venom also serves to protect their fur from parasites such as mites and fleas.
These animals received vitamins (as shown in the main image) and were placed in a monitoring enclosure (see above). “They will be observed for several days to two weeks to help them acclimate to the wild before their permanent release,” Rothulung explains.
The infant’s brain functions at a distinct rhythm compared to that of adults
Goodles/Aramie
When infants attempt to comprehend their surroundings, their brain activity reveals slower rhythms compared to adults, aiding them in grasping new concepts.
Our brains utilize a network of neurons to interpret sensory input. When a neuron receives a sufficiently strong signal from its neighbor, it transmits that signal to other neurons, generating synchronized waves of electrical activity that alternate between activated and silent states.
These brain waves manifest at various frequencies. A specific brain area may show a greater proportion of neurons synchronized to one frequency over others if it exhibits a range of frequencies simultaneously. For instance, prior research indicates that the adult visual cortex displays a diverse range of frequencies when individuals are observing stimuli, but in higher proportions, more neurons synchronize with the waves at a frequency of 10 hertz.
To determine if the same holds true for infants, Moritz Kester from the University of Regensburg in Germany along with his colleagues enlisted 42 eight-month-olds via their parents. The researchers recorded the infants’ brain activity with electrodes affixed to the scalp, exposing them to dozens of friendly cartoon monsters for about 15 minutes, each monster flashing for two seconds.
The team relied on the fact that brain waves tend to oscillate in sync with rapidly flickering images, enabling them to assess the number of neurons synchronized to various frequencies within the infants’ visual cortex. Each monster was toggled on and off at eight different frequencies ranging from 2 to 30 hertz.
Analysis of the brain activity data revealed that the visual cortex produces waves of synchronized activity in response to the flickering cartoons. However, the most prominent signals emerged at four hertz, indicating greater synchronization with this flicker frequency than with others.
Moreover, this 4-hertz signal was consistently present even when the brain was exposed to flickering at higher frequencies, such as 15 hertz. “What’s particularly intriguing is that regardless of the different frequencies presented, a response at 4 hertz was always observed,” comments Kester.
This rhythm falls within a frequency band known as theta, which is associated with the formation of new concepts, potentially facilitating learning for young children as they observe their environment. “It suggests that infants are in a specific learning mode,” Kester explains.
Researchers supporting this theory further discovered that there were no 4-hertz EEG signals in the visual cortex, nor EEG signals at other frequencies, suggesting a broader neural circuit involvement in other brain areas related to concept formation.
Repeating the experiment with seven adults confirmed prior findings that visual brain circuits are predominantly activated by the 10 hertz frequency, which was also found to persist in the background despite varying speeds of the cartoon flickering.
Further research is necessary to establish whether exposure to 4 hertz flickering images can enhance infants’ capacity to learn new concepts, according to Emily Jones at Birkbeck, University of London. The team is hopeful to gain further insights in an ongoing study, Kester added.
Recent studies indicate that daily vitamin D intake can assist in managing the effects of aging.
Research has shown that supplementing with vitamin D for four years could potentially offset the aging process by about three years.
Prior studies have suggested that vitamin D supplements may help mitigate some prominent aging signs linked to various age-related diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and dementia.
To explore this hypothesis, researchers from Mass General Brigham and Georgia Medical University examined the findings of previous trials. In this experiment, over 55 women and more than 50 men participated, taking either Vitamin D, Omega 3, or a placebo daily for five years.
The recent study assessed telomere length, concentrating on 1,054 participants who underwent specific tests at the beginning of the trial, as well as in their second and fourth years.
Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences that protect chromosomes. Professor Morten Schiebye-Knudsen from the University of Copenhagen, who was not involved in the study, noted in BBC Science Focus Magazine.
Telomeres safeguard chromosome ends and prevent fusion or degradation – Credit: Getty Images/Knopprit
“Consider them like the plastic tips on shoelaces. They prevent chromosomes from fraying and sticking to each other, which helps maintain genetic stability during cell division,” he explained.
With each cell division, telomeres shorten slightly. If they become too short, the cell loses its ability to divide, leading to cell dysfunction.
The study found that participants taking vitamin D exhibited significantly reduced telomere shortening, effectively preventing nearly three years of aging.
This finding could offer valuable insights into promoting longer health spans, as telomere shortening is linked to various age-related diseases.
“I often refer to these cells as angry old men. They lose functionality, become inactive, and worsen over time, negatively impacting their environment,” Schiebye-Knudsen remarked.
“Telomere shortening may lead to older, more dysfunctional cells, resulting in increased inflammation in our bodies, particularly in rapidly dividing cells, like those in bone marrow, skin, and hair.”
About our experts
Morten Schiebye-Knudsen serves as an associate professor at the Faculty of Cellular Molecular Medicine at the University of Copenhagen.
Norway is a thriving market for Tesla, with electric cars making up over 90% of new car sales in Scandinavian countries. Buyers in Norway are knowledgeable about batteries, charging, and range, making it a key market for Tesla where sales have remained relatively stable compared to other countries.
Global analysts expect Tesla’s worldwide sales to decline, partially due to consumer backlash against CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration.
Oslo urban planner Geia Rognien Ergbin initially supported Tesla but grew disillusioned with Musk’s political affiliations and data security policies. He replaced his Tesla with a cargo bike and a shared electric Volkswagen.
Tesla’s sales in Norway have declined as consumers look for alternative electric vehicle options. Competitors like Volkswagen, Volvo, BMW, and Chinese manufacturers are gaining ground in the market.
The decline in Norway’s advanced electric car market is indicative of a larger trend globally.
Tesla’s sales are declining due to reliance on limited models and increasing competition from traditional automakers offering diverse electric vehicle options.
Despite Tesla’s previous dominance, other automakers are catching up in technology and market share, impacting Tesla’s sales.
Tesla’s sales in Europe are facing challenges as consumers wait for upgraded models and explore other electric vehicle options. Musk’s political affiliations and controversial statements are also influencing consumer perception of the brand.
Consumer backlash against Musk and Tesla’s association with right-wing politics is affecting sales in Europe, particularly for the Model 3. Competitors are gaining ground in the electric vehicle market.
Some Tesla owners in Norway are feeling embarrassed about supporting the brand due to Musk’s political affiliations. Despite this, they are still using their Teslas as alternatives are not easily available.
Norway’s largest used car dealer has seen an increase in Tesla sales, despite consumer concerns about the brand. The competitive pricing and performance of Tesla cars continue to attract buyers.
Traditional automakers are introducing new electric vehicle models with advanced battery technology, posing a competitive challenge to Tesla. Consumers now have more options in the electric vehicle market.
Anusha Baiya Contributed report from New York Henrik Pryser Libell From Oslo.
Omega-3 Supplements may be an easy way to slowden aging
EVGENIIA SIANKOVSKAIA/Getty Images
Omega 3 supplements every day, especially when combined with vitamin D and exercise, seems to slow the biological aging of the elderly.
We already knew that “good” fat, which is seen in seeds, nuts, and fish can enhance immunity, heart health, and brain function.
They are also linked to changes “Epigi Nete” markerDNA chemical tags that change the activity of the gene and the behavior of cells. This suggests that Omega 3 reduces pace Biological agingIn many cases, it is defined as a measure of how fast someone has deteriorated, compared to the body of the general group.
To explore this further Heike Bischoff-Ferrari The University of Zurich and her colleagues divided 777 Switzerland, 70 and 91, into eight groups. They also wanted to know how Omega-3 works along with vitamin D supplements and exercise.
“Omega-3 plays on multiple routes of aging, such as anti-inflammatoryness. Similarly, vitamin D and exercise have multiple advantages,” says Bischoff-Ferrari. “Did we think that there are additional advantages if you play in each of these differential routes?”
Some participants had already taken these supplements at the start of the research or doing strength training. According to Bischoff-Ferrari, it was not ethical to stop exercising or stop taking specific supplements, so it was allowed to continue.
In addition to the existing lifestyle habits, each group was told to have a variety of combinations of one grams of Omega-3, placebo tablets, and 2000 international unit vitamin D. Muscle training three times a week.
For example, some people have been asked to take 3 tablets of omega, take vitamin D supplements, and do additional strength training, or have been asked to take vitamin D with strength training. I didn't take Omega 3.
At the start of the research, researchers estimated the biological age of the participants using the “Epi Nete Watch”, which was previously developed by teams and other researchers. These analyzed a DNA marker called methyl group in a blood sample that generally decrease with age and impairs cell function.
Through the same three years later, the scientists have been told to take Omega 3, aging only about three months less than employees who are only given placebo pills. I discovered that there was no. They explained the factors that could affect the results, such as the actual age, gender, weight, and height of the participants.
“This is today's biggest test that suggests that simple supplements contribute to the slowdown of biological aging,” says Bischoff-Ferrari.
Furthermore, those who took Omega-3 with vitamin D and did less tension training compared to those who did not introduce any of these habits as part of the trial. “The effect was somewhat remarkable, and it was almost four months of rejuvenation,” says Bischoff-Ferrari.
These effects may seem small, but it may be important for some people. Richard Siou At King Scarage Rondon. “This is more important for the elderly, because it may be more likely to decrease in age in about three months,” he says.
However, epigenetic watches are not a complete scale of biological aging. “Just because DNA's biomarker indicates that you resemble a young person does not necessarily mean that you are healthy in some way,” says SIOW.
Further research says that it is necessary to evaluate what changes in measures such as cognitive, motor skills, and heart health mean. The Bischoff-Ferrari team analyzes participants' data on these results.
Another restriction of this study was that the participants were relatively healthy and active, and there was almost no lack of vitamin D. Bischoff-Ferrari says that there is a need for a further research in which people who live in other countries without these characteristics and young people in other countries are involved.
When it comes to maintaining health in old age, amidst the plethora of complex supplements advertised by influencers and podcast hosts, the key might just be Omega-3. Recent research suggests that regular consumption of Omega-3 fatty acid capsules can have a significant impact on longevity, potentially slowing the aging process by up to 4 months. Lower aging.
Biological age is a more accurate indicator of your life expectancy than your chronological age. It reflects the rate of DNA changes, which can vary from person to person.
A study published in the journal Nature Aging compared the effects of Omega-3 intake, vitamin D supplementation, and regular exercise on over 700 adults above 70. Participants were divided into three groups, receiving either 1g of Omega-3, 30mg of vitamin D, or engaging in 30 minutes of exercise three times a week, or no treatment at all.
Throughout the study, blood samples were collected and participants’ aging rates were measured using epigenetic “clocks.” The results showed that those taking Omega-3 experienced a biological age reduction of four months. When combined with vitamin D and exercise, the effects were even more pronounced, reducing the risk of various age-related ailments.
Experts, like Dr. Mary Ni Lochlainn, a Geriatrics specialist, are encouraged by these findings. However, some caution that more standardized tests for biological aging are needed to fully understand the impact of such interventions.
Read more:
Five tablets that may reverse aging (including those that may already be taken)
Are you sick?
Five simple ways to instantly find your “biological age”
I vividly remember buying my first pair of glasses as a child. My mother is extremely nearsighted and takes me to the optician every year. My older sister was diagnosed when she was about 8 years old, and I prayed that she wouldn't copy me because she was afraid of being made fun of, but by the time I was her age, the world had become a blur. A visit to the optician that year confirmed it, and I've been wearing glasses or contact lenses ever since.
In the late 1970s, it was extremely unusual for someone to need glasses at such a young age. No more. Over the past 30 years, myopia has increased rapidly, especially among children. Approximately one-third of 5- to 19-year-olds are now nearsighted, up from one-quarter in 1990. If this trend continues, the proportion will be approximately 40% by 2050 – or 740 million myopic young people.
It's more than an inconvenience. “Myopia is a disease,” they say. K. Davina Flick Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Maryland, where he recently served as co-chair. National Academy of Sciences Committee on Conditions. “It is widespread Quality of life and economic impactThere is a risk of blindness, especially in severe cases,” she says. But researchers are increasingly thinking that the epidemic can be slowed or even reversed.
Most cases of myopia are axial. This means that the axis of the eyeball, the distance between the cornea at the front and the light-sensing retina at the back, becomes too long. This means that the light that enters your eyes is focused right in front of your eyes.
During the Bronze Age, northwestern Arabia, the region between Mecca and Aqaba, was home to interconnected city walls centered around small fortified cities, such as the recently discovered town of al-Nata in the Khyber Oasis in the Medina province of Saudi Arabia. There were oases dotted around the area.
3D virtual reconstruction of the Bronze Age town of Arnatar. Image credit: Charloux others., doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309963 / AFALULA-RCU-CNRS.
The development of metropolitan settlements was a major step in the evolution of human civilization.
This urbanization process can be difficult to study in northwestern Arabia, in part due to the region's lack of well-preserved archaeological sites compared to better-understood regions such as the Levant and Mesopotamia. I understand.
However, excavations in recent decades have uncovered exceptional ruins that provide insight into the early stages of urbanization in northwest Arabia.
In a new study, CNRS archaeologist Guillaume Charroux and colleagues focused on the Bronze Age town of Al Nataa, which was inhabited from around 2400 to 1500 BC.
The town is approximately 1.5 hectares in area and includes a central area and nearby residential areas surrounded by a protective wall.
According to researchers, about 500 people lived in Arnata.
Although similar in size and composition to other sites of similar age in northwest Arabia, these sites are smaller and less sociopolitically complex than modern sites in the Levant and Mesopotamia.
Scientists suggest that Al Nata represents a state of “hypo-urbanization”, a transition period between nomadic pastoralism and complex urban settlement.
Archaeological evidence so far indicates that small fortified cities dotted northwestern Arabia during the Early to Middle Bronze Age, a period when other regions were showing later stages of urbanization.
Further excavations throughout Arabia will provide more detailed information about the timing of this transition and the changes in social structure and architecture that accompanied it.
“Archaeologists have discovered the first small Bronze Age town (c. 2400-1300 BC) in northwest Arabia connected to an extensive network of walls, raising questions about the early development of local urban planning,” the authors said.
Their paper was published in the online journal PLoS ONE on October 30, 2024.
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G. Charroux others. 2024. Bronze Age towns in the walled oasis of Khyber: A discussion of early urbanization in northwestern Arabia. PLoS ONE 19 (10): e0309963;doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309963
In its latest quarterly earnings report, Microsoft exceeded analysts’ expectations by reporting a 15% increase in revenue year over year on Tuesday. However, growth in Azure, the company’s flagship cloud-computing service, fell short, leading to a 7% drop in Microsoft shares during after-hours trading.
Expectations for solid growth in the fourth-quarter earnings report were high, especially driven by cloud services with predicted revenue growth of 29%, which was expected to be between 30% and 31%. This led to a decline in stock prices for major technology companies due to recent market challenges.
During the Microsoft Earnings Report, CEO Satya Nadella aimed to instill confidence in the company’s performance.
Nadella stated in the earnings call, “This year’s strong performance demonstrates our innovation and the ongoing trust our customers have in Microsoft. As a platform company, we prioritize meeting our customers’ mission-critical needs at scale while leading in the AI era.”
Microsoft’s significant investments in artificial intelligence in recent years reflect a strategic move to dominate the tech industry with AI-enabled services. Backing ChatGPT developer OpenAI solidifies Microsoft’s position as a key player in commercializing generative AI.
Despite the growing questions surrounding the revenue potential of big tech companies’ pivot to AI, other factors like speculation about a Federal Reserve rate cut have helped calm investors as enthusiasm for big tech fades after a period of rising stock prices driven by AI optimism.
Microsoft faced challenges this month amid a global technology outage caused by a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affecting Windows systems. An unrelated outage on Microsoft’s Azure cloud service on Tuesday also caused network connectivity issues in multiple countries.
A recent study reveals that climate change is fundamentally reshaping the Earth, impacting its core. The melting of polar ice caps and glaciers due to global warming is causing a redistribution of water towards the equator, resulting in a shift in the Earth’s rotation and leading to increased daylight hours. This phenomenon is supported by new evidence suggesting that changes in the Earth’s ice could potentially affect its axis. These alterations create feedback loops within the Earth’s molten core, as highlighted in studies published in Nature Geoscience and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
According to Benedict Soja, an assistant professor at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, human activities are significantly influencing the Earth’s rotation. Changes in the planet’s shape and mass distribution, influenced historically by forces like the moon’s gravitational pull and rebounding of crust after ice age glaciers disappeared, are now being accelerated by rapid ice melting caused by climate change. Soja warns that continued carbon emissions could make ice loss a more significant factor in Earth’s rotation than the moon.
In addition to external factors like gravity and ice loss, fluid movements in the Earth’s core also play a role in affecting the planet’s rotation. These movements can speed up or slow down the Earth’s rotation and are currently compensating for the slowdown caused by climate change. The new study suggests that climate change is leading to small variations in polar motion due to changes in mass distribution, estimated to be about one meter per decade.
An iceberg in Antarctica on February 8th. Şebnem Coşkun / Anadolu via Getty Images File
These changes in rotation are expected to have implications for space missions, navigation, and timekeeping. Understanding how Earth’s rotation and axis are affected by climate change will be crucial for accurate space exploration and maintaining global time standards. The research emphasizes the interconnectedness of surface processes with the Earth’s core, shedding light on the complex relationship between human activities and the planet’s inner workings.
Humanoid robots that can drive cars may one day be used as chauffeurs, but their creators acknowledge that this could be at least 50 years away.
Most driverless cars work completely differently than a human driver, using artificial intelligence and custom mechanical systems to directly control the steering wheel and pedals. This approach is much more efficient and simpler than using a humanoid robot to drive, but it needs to be customized for each specific car.
Kento Kawarazuka Professor Takeru Sato of the University of Tokyo and his team have developed a humanoid robot called “Musashi” that can drive a car just like a human. Musashi has a human-like “skeleton” and “muscles,” and is equipped with cameras in both eyes and force sensors in its limbs. An artificial intelligence system determines the movements required to drive the car and responds to events such as changes in the color of traffic lights and people cutting in front of the car.
Currently, robots can only perform a limited range of driving tasks, such as going straight or turning right, at speeds of around 5km per hour on non-public roads. “The pedal speed and car speed are not high, and the car handling is also not as fast as a human,” Kawarazuka said.
Musashi is a humanoid robot that operates cars just like a human would.
Kento Kawarazuka et al. 2024
But Kawarazuka hopes that as the system is improved it could be used in any car, which could be useful when humanoid robots are routinely produced. “I’m not looking 10 or 20 years out, I’m looking 50 or 100 years out,” he says.
“This research could be of interest to people developing humanoid robots, but it doesn’t tell us much about autonomous driving.” Jack Stilgoe “Self-driving cars cannot and should not drive like humans. Because the technology doesn’t need to rely on limbs and eyes, it can rely on digital maps and dedicated infrastructure to find safer, more convenient ways to navigate the world,” say researchers at University College London.
ERon Musk became the richest man in the world by evangelizing electric cars and delivering one million electric cars. But in recent months, his company Tesla has struggled to maintain its momentum. This year's sales have declined and stock prices have fallen.
These struggles are emblematic of the broader situation facing the electric vehicle (EV) industry. The pace of sales growth has slowed after years of the coronavirus pandemic that sent demand and valuations soaring. The industry is entering a new phase, raising questions about whether the switch from gasoline and diesel to cleaner electricity will face a nasty stall or a temporary speed bump.
Musk acknowledged the difficulties this week, telling investors: “Globally, EV penetration is under pressure, with many other automakers pulling back from EVs and pursuing plug-in hybrids instead. ” he said. Musk, of course, insisted it was the wrong decision.
Electric vehicle charging stations in Norway, where EVs account for 90% of the market. Photo: Andreas Wirth/Alamy
However, sluggish sales are a reality. Tesla and its closest rival in electric car sales, China's BYD, have both reported declines in electric car sales. Across Europe, the share of sales of battery electric cars fell to 13% from 13.9% last year, while sales of hybrid cars, which combine a battery and an internal combustion engine, rose to 29% from 24.4%. In the UK, electric cars accounted for 15.5% of total car sales in the first three months of 2024, only a slight increase on the same period last year.
In recent years, electric car manufacturers have been able to easily sell every electric car they make. However, many companies around the world are currently struggling to cope with the end of the era of rock-bottom interest rates, when households have less money left in their pockets.
“The economic headwinds are pretty bad across the board, so it's no surprise that the economy is slowing down,” said Ian Henry, whose auto analysis consultancy works with several automakers.
Buyers still have to pay more upfront for battery cars (though most will save money by owning an electric car because energy is cheaper). Additionally, electric vehicle repair costs and insurance premiums may be higher in some locations due to a lack of mechanics. Another important factor is that the rollout of public chargers has been very patchy, giving some potential buyers pause. All of these were pounced on by EV industry skeptics, turning the industry into a culture war battleground.
government's hand
Rico Luhmann, senior sector economist for automotive at investment bank ING, said EV sales had reached a “plateau” and that after an initial rush of early adopters accustomed to switching from gas-powered cars, electric vehicle sales were on the rise. He said sales will become even more difficult. diesel.
But there is more at play in this showdown than purely economic factors. Government also plays a big role. This trend is particularly evident across Europe, where EV sales are following diverging paths even as buyers face similar pressures. Norway is an outlier. Electric vehicle sales are heavily subsidized and EVs currently account for 90% of the market. This year, EV market share also expanded in Denmark, Belgium, and France.
However, in Germany, once the largest electric car market, the adoption rate of electric cars has declined simply because the government has ended subsidies.
Regulations not only affect demand but also play a large role in the cars sold. Matthias Schmidt, a Berlin-based electric vehicle analyst, has long predicted that European electric vehicle sales growth will slow in 2024. The reason is that January 1, 2025, is the date when the EU will take the next big step towards zero-emission vehicles, meaning lower average carbon emissions. The carbon footprint of the cars sold by each manufacturer must be reduced by 15% compared to 2021.
Ford Puma. Photo: SYSPEO/Sipa/Rex/Shutterstock
Therefore, this rule is a big incentive for automakers to focus their efforts on electric vehicles next year. Schmidt argues that the European industry is experiencing a “replay” of the situation experienced in 2019 when manufacturers held back sales of electric cars before mass-launching new models in 2020.
Sure enough, automakers are releasing new mass-market models at just the right time. Renault's electric 5 hatchback will cost less than €25,000 (£21,430) when it goes on sale this autumn, while Ford plans to launch an electric version of Britain's best-selling car, the Ford Puma, later this year.
A man helps assemble an Opel Grandland X SUV at the Opel factory in Eisenach, eastern Germany. Photo: Martin Schutt/dpa/AFP/Getty Images
Stellantis, which owns the Vauxhall, Peugeot-Fiat, and Chrysler brands, is also joining the rush, unveiling the Vauxhall/Opel Grandland electric SUV on Tuesday. Still, the company's CEO, Carlos Tavares, complained bitterly about how regulations are encouraging the switch to electric cars.
This week, he slammed Britain's Transport Secretary Mark Harper over the government's zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which forces car manufacturers to increase the proportion of electric vehicles they sell. He later told journalists that the mandate was a “terrible” policy because it would force automakers to introduce electric models too quickly.
“The result of this is that everyone starts pushing BEVs (battery electric vehicles), pushing metals into the market, completely destroying profitability and destroying businesses,” he said.
Schmidt said the automakers’ complaints could have ulterior motives. EU rules will ban the sale of most internal combustion engines by 2035 but are expected to be revised in 2026.
“Many manufacturers are now complaining that it's unrealistic to meet these goals, but that's lobbying by stealth,” Schmidt said. “They do it so often that it's almost like a boy-werewolf affair. There’s definitely an ulterior motive to their moans.”
But other manufacturers have already delayed that shift, which means extending the sales period for still-profitable gasoline models. In the United States, General Motors postponed production at a plant in Michigan last year, and Ford also postponed construction of a plant in Kentucky. And in the UK, luxury car maker Bentley announced last month that it would postpone the launch of its first battery car by one year, until 2026.
“Manufacturers are definitely struggling strategically at the moment,” Luhmann said. “They're playing around with the timing of the model right now, but they're not delaying it too much. If they don't, they're going to miss out in terms of market share.”
Perhaps the biggest reason why European and American automakers are unlikely to switch gears toward EVs is China. China sales growth may have slowed in the first quarter of 2024 compared to a year ago, but still exceeded 1 million units, according to industry data cited by Reuters. Many Chinese automakers, including leader BYD and cash-rich new entrants such as mobile phone maker Xiaomi, are fighting to dominate their home market and capture a new role as the world's biggest car exporter. There is.
During a recent visit to China, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke out against protectionism, keenly aware that imposing penalties on Chinese EVs would lead to swift retaliation against German automakers, but that Chinese manufacturers remain He said there needs to be access to the market.
Massive competition is fierce for electric car makers, with even Tesla having to cut prices to keep selling its cars. The competition will give auto industry executives sleepless nights and could force some companies to face mergers or bankruptcies, causing job losses. But prices could fall even further, making electric cars cheaper than gasoline cars.
“This is potentially good for consumers,” Ian Henry said. “Whether that's a good thing for manufacturers who are trying to make a profit is another question.”
Aggregates of protein α-synuclein (brown) and antibody (green)
Biolution GMBH/Science Photo Library
Drugs that target protein accumulations associated with Parkinson's disease may slow the progression of motor symptoms in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. This shows potential as a disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson's disease, but it is unclear whether the drug actually removes the protein from the brain.
Accumulation of a misfolded protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain has long been thought to be the underlying cause of Parkinson's disease. This results in the loss of neurons that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is involved in motor control.
Some existing treatments aim to alleviate these symptoms by improving dopamine levels in the brain, but their long-term effects are limited. To date, there are no approved disease-modifying treatments to stop or slow the progression of Parkinson's disease.
In an effort to counter this, Gennaro Pagano Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche and colleagues recruited 316 people who appeared to have early stages of Parkinson's disease. Of these people, 105 received an intravenous infusion of a placebo, and 211 received a low or high dose of Roche's drug plasinezumab every four weeks for a year.
Placinezumab is an antibody designed to bind to aggregates of misfolded alpha-synuclein within dopaminergic neurons. “It is hypothesized that placinezumab may reduce neurotoxicity, prevent cell-to-cell movement of pathological alpha-synuclein aggregates, and slow disease progression,” Pagano says.
Trial results initially suggested the antibody had no significant effect, but the team later realized it may have an effect in trial participants with more severe forms of Parkinson's disease. I did.
These people suffered from rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, which causes intense, often violent dreams that are common in Parkinson's disease. He was taking a drug called an MAO-B inhibitor to manage his symptoms. Or, he has been rated by an expert at 2 out of 5 on a symptom scale, with higher numbers indicating greater severity.
Additional analyzes showed that both low and high doses of the drug had greater effects than seen in the first study, especially among critically ill participants. The rate at which participants' motor symptoms worsened over a one-year period was significantly reduced compared to those taking a placebo.
For example, based on the Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale for Motor Symptoms, patients who took an MAO-B inhibitor and then received a placebo infusion had a score of 6.82 at the end of the year, compared to Patients who took the drug had a score of 4.15.
“These results suggest that potential treatment benefits may be more likely to be achieved in populations that experience greater deterioration over time and more rapid progression,” Pagano says. This is because patients with Parkinson's disease, which progresses more rapidly, have higher amounts of misfolded alpha-synuclein in their brains, so they may benefit more from drugs that can remove this protein. There is a possibility.
However, Professor Pagano said researchers lacked a biomarker that could monitor how participants' levels of misfolded alpha-synuclein changed, so it was unclear what was happening in the participants' brains. He said it was not possible to make an accurate assessment.
Vinata Vedam Mai Researchers at the University of Florida Health say a limitation of the study is that it did not assess whether alpha-synuclein was cleared from the brain. Without this, she says, the results cannot conclusively show that plasinezumab is disease-modifying. Vedam-Mai said he would also like to see long-term data to better assess the drug's safety and effectiveness. No serious adverse events occurred in the latest trial.
Researchers could also investigate whether plasinezumab, when taken over a long period of time, is effective for patients with mild Parkinson's disease, Pagano said.
It’s that time A look back at this year’s biggest tech M&A deals. Typically, by this point, the usual acquisition suspects like Microsoft, Salesforce, Adobe, SAP Oracle, and Cisco have undergone at least some major changes. But this year, only Cisco made a big splash, ultimately announcing 11 deals in total.
SAP has made some small deals, but Microsoft, Salesforce, Adobe, and Oracle have been mostly quiet this year. The $61 billion Broadcom-VMware deal, announced in May 2022, was finally completed last month, and Adobe and Figma agreed this month to terminate the $20 billion deal, which ends in September 2022. It has been a regulatory impasse since it was announced in September.
It is not our imagination that transactions from major companies are decreasing. CB Insight reported There were zero deals from big tech companies in the third quarter of this year. Compare that to 2019, when there were 10 such deals in the third quarter, and 2020, when there were eight.
Image credits: CB Insight
Perhaps high borrowing costs put a damper on deals in 2023. The days when his 2020 major deals totaled $165 billion are long gone. This year’s total was just $67.7 billion, the lowest total since a record low of $40 billion in 2019, the second year the list of these top deals was compiled.
It’s worth noting that a significant number of this year’s deals involve private equity firms acquiring companies or selling them at significant profits.
Perhaps smaller deals involving AI were more important, like Atlassian’s $975 million acquisition of Loom. Salesforce acquired Airkit.ai for an undisclosed sum, one of just two small acquisitions this year. Or Snowflake’s acquisition of AI search company Neeva, again for an undisclosed amount.
Regardless, here are this year’s top 10 corporate deals, from cheapest to most expensive.
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