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Rising Solar Threats Target SpaceX’s Starlink and Other Satellites

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Starlink satellite paths observed from space

Don Pettit/NASA

The proliferation of satellites in orbit is accelerating rapidly, yet their vulnerability to solar storms remains poorly understood. This issue is expected to intensify.

Since May 2019, SpaceX has deployed over 10,000 satellites as part of its Starlink internet megaconstellation, with approximately 1,000 currently re-entering Earth’s atmosphere at a rate of one or two daily. These satellites form a vast network surrounding the Earth, which suggests that solar and related geomagnetic storms could impact at least some satellites at any given time.

To assess the implications of these storms on Starlink, Kang Eun Joo and researchers at the University of California, Irvine, analyzed publicly available satellite tracking data collected during the solar storm of May 2024.

The findings indicated that during the storm’s peak, Starlink satellites on the sun-facing side experienced an altitude reduction of up to half a kilometer. While this drop is minor compared to their 550-kilometer orbit, it is significant because solar radiation can generate atmospheric drag on the satellites.

Satellites in other locations, particularly those near the Earth’s poles where the magnetic field attracts more solar particles, and those over the South Atlantic Anomaly, where the magnetic field has weakened, also experienced substantial effects.

According to the data reviewed by the research team, an unusual phenomenon occurred among the constellations. “When one satellite descends, neighboring satellites must adjust accordingly,” Kang explained, utilizing onboard ion thrusters to recalibrate the affected satellites. This is necessary since the satellites communicate via line-of-sight lasers to maintain the network, which creates a cascading effect as adjacent satellites follow suit. “It’s like a wave,” remarked Sangeeta Abdu Jyoti, another researcher at UC Irvine.

This could lead to challenges for other satellites maneuvering around the Starlink constellation to prevent collisions. “Unpredictable paths heighten collision risks,” Abdu Jyoti cautioned.

Additional publicly accessible data also reveals the repercussions of solar storms. Some Starlink users utilize an online service called RIPE Atlas to monitor their connection status. By analyzing this information, Kang and her team noted that satellites experienced disruptions and reported network outages during the May 2024 storm. “Packet loss surged immediately,” Kang stated, resulting in data failing to reach its intended targets.

This study emphasizes the challenges faced by satellite constellations such as Starlink, as well as those in development like Amazon’s Project Kuiper and various projects in China, due to solar activity jeopardizing communication and potentially leading to drastic positional changes that could result in collisions with other satellites.

In February 2022, a significant solar storm caused 40 newly launched Starlink satellites to return to the atmosphere, where they incinerated. Recent studies have also indicated that heightened solar activity is accelerating the decline of certain Starlink satellites.

The May 2024 solar storm was roughly three times weaker than the Carrington event of 1859—the strongest solar storm on record. Such records are likely to be repeated, potentially creating significant challenges for satellite operators. “If an exceptionally strong storm occurs, the situation will worsen,” Abdu Jyoti said. “But the extent of that worsening remains uncertain.”

For now, I hope to have adequate preparation time. The May 2024 storm happened at the peak of the sun’s 22-year activity cycle. A powerful storm could strike at any moment, with a higher likelihood expected in the 2040s when solar activity intensifies again. By that time, it’s anticipated that tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, more satellites will be in orbit compared to the current approximate count of 13,000. “The more satellites you have, the greater the issue,” stated Scott Shambaugh, founder of Leonid Space, a US company tracking the impact of space weather on satellites.

“Currently, we lack reliable predictive models to assess how solar storms impact drag over short timescales,” Shambaugh explained. “Consequently, satellites may not be where anticipated for hours or days following a storm.”

Matthew Owens identified another area needing further understanding: substorms—minor fluctuations in the atmosphere caused by solar heating that disproportionately affect satellites in varied orbits, according to researchers from Britain’s University of Reading. “Geomagnetic storms consist of numerous substorms,” he noted, “but these are extraordinarily challenging to forecast.”

Satellite constellations like Starlink provide a unique perspective on this activity, effectively serving as a massive research network in orbit around Earth. “These satellites may very well be our first data probes for analyzing local variations in atmospheric drag,” Abdu Jyoti concluded.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Should We Target the Asteroid Heading Toward the Moon as Our Core Initiative?

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What action should humanity take if an asteroid is heading toward the moon? Why not attempt to divert these celestial bodies before they collide? Should we neutralize it with a nuclear explosion?

These queries are examined in a recent paper authored by more than a dozen researchers, including NASA scientists. These scenarios aren’t merely theoretical: the asteroid known as 2024 YR4 is estimated to have a 4% chance of impacting the moon in 2032.

Such collisions could “spike levels of background radiation up to 1,000 times higher in just a few days, posing threats to astronauts and spacecraft in low-Earth orbit,” the researchers noted in their paper. The preprint on arXiv was published on September 15th but has yet to undergo peer review.

To prevent a potentially hazardous debris field, one approach is to use nuclear energy to neutralize the asteroid or, as scientists term it, create a “robust mess” before it reaches the moon.

Cue references from the “Armageddon” movie.

However, this approach carries significant risks, as it has never been tested for asteroid destruction using nuclear forces.

Crucial information about asteroid 2024 YR4 remains unknown, including its mass, which is vital for determining the most effective way to “destroy” it without unintentionally creating greater problems.

“If an explosion isn’t sufficient, just create a debris field anyway,” remarked Julie Brissett, interim director of the Florida Space Institute.

Asteroid 2024 YR4 was first identified in December by Chile’s Asteroid Land Impact Trajectory Store Alt System Station. NASA estimates it could be up to 220 feet in diameter, large enough to be categorized as a “city killer,” since it could severely damage an urban area or region on Earth.

Experts initially estimated a slim chance of asteroids hitting Earth, with an impact probability of 3% predicted earlier this year. However, subsequent analyses ruled out collisions with our planet.

Given that Earth appears to be safe, asteroid 2024 YR4 is considered to have an estimated 4.3% chance of impacting the moon.

The authors of a recent paper suggested launching a reconnaissance mission to study the asteroid and then developing an explosive device before deploying it for a space lock.

Alternatively, if a nuclear detonation is deemed too extreme for destruction, researchers will provide detailed strategies for steering the asteroid off course.

NASA has relevant experience; in 2022, its DART probe successfully altered its orbit by crashing into a small asteroid called Dimorphos. This test occurred 6.8 million miles from Earth, successfully redirecting Dimorphos and reducing its orbital period by 33 minutes, according to NASA.

However, for deflection efforts to succeed, Brissett noted that it’s crucial to ascertain the mass of asteroid 2024 YR4.

In response to an NBC News inquiry regarding NASA’s recent paper, Kelly Fast, the agency’s Planetary Defense Officer, stated that there are currently no plans to deflect the asteroid or intervene in its course.

Nevertheless, she indicated that a study is planned for early next year using the James Webb Space Telescope, aiming to yield insights into its trajectory.

“If we observe it, additional data could enhance our understanding of the asteroid’s position in December 2032,” Fast mentioned, “possibly reducing the impact probability to 0%.”

Even if missions, such as those discussed in the paper, can be executed, there are political dynamics to consider.

Currently, no astronauts or long-term habitats exist on the moon, though this may change. China, for instance, intends to send astronauts to the moon by 2030 and has discussed establishing a nuclear power plant there to support lunar bases in partnership with Russia.

The U.S. plans to conduct regular missions to the moon before NASA eventually targets Mars, but future missions and objectives remain uncertain due to notable budget cuts exceeding $6 billion in the NASA budget plan proposed by President Trump.

The use of nuclear devices in space could escalate tensions among the U.S., China, and other space-faring nations, potentially leading to disputes over which countries and agencies would spearhead or contribute to such projects, noted Brissett.

“It’s likely a country with the technical capability to do that,” she said, “narrowing it down to three or four, but the question remains: do they want to collaborate?”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Elon Musk’s Proposed New Political Party Could Target Key Parliamentary Seats

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A new political party that Elon Musk claims he can focus on a select few attainable House and Senate seats while financially supporting crucial votes on pivotal issues amid the slim margins in Congress.

On Friday, the highly-paid CEOs of Tesla and SpaceX reflected on their strategy in a post on X, the social media platform he owns.

“One strategy is to concentrate intensely on just two or three Senate seats and eight to ten congressional districts,” Musk tweeted. As the wealthiest individual following Trump’s second presidential term that began in January, he is navigating severe federal budget cuts. “Considering the razor-thin legislative margins, it is enough to serve as a critical vote against contentious laws, ensuring they truly reflect the will of the people.”



Musk did not mention which specific seat he might be focusing on.

In another post on Friday, Musk conducted a poll coinciding with the US celebration of its 249th Independence Day asking whether his X followers would support his idea of forming a so-called American party to challenge both Republicans and Democrats. As of Saturday morning, over 65% of approximately 1.25 million respondents indicated they were in favor.

“Independence Day is the perfect occasion to ask if you wish to break away from a two-party system (some refer to it as Uniparty)!” Musk also noted in a message accompanying the poll, which he promoted multiple times on Friday.

Musk’s post on Friday follows his investment of $277 million supporting Trump’s campaign for the 2024 presidential election. In return, the Republican president appointed Musk to lead the so-called “government efficiency” initiative, known as Doge.

However, Doge’s actions could potentially lead to a loss of $135 billion in damages, according to a report by Public Services Partnership, a nonpartisan organization focused on researching the federal workforce.

Musk left Doge at the end of May and has recently expressed anger over Trump’s support for a budget proposal that would increase US debt by $330 million. He threatened to withdraw financial backing from any congressional members who endorsed Trump’s spending plan.

The House voted 218-214 in favor of the spending bill, with two Republicans joining all Democrats in opposition. In the Senate, Vice President JD Vance broke the 50-50 tie to support a bill endorsed by Trump on Friday, shortly after Musk published a related poll regarding the American party.

The contentious vote on Trump’s spending bill illustrates how closely contested outcomes will be in Congress.

Trump has cautioned Musk, who became a naturalized US citizen in 2002, that opposing his agenda could be personally costly. The president, known for his aggressive immigration policies, has openly discussed the possibility of deporting Musk from the United States and terminating government contracts.

“Without subsidies, Elon would likely have to shut down and return to South Africa,” Trump stated. He posted on his own social media platform.

The president also addressed reporters in Florida, saying, “We may have to put Doge on Elon. Doge is a monster that needs to go back and confront Elon. That’s not too harsh.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Cyber Attacks Could Target Home Solar Panels to Disrupt Power Grids

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A third of Australian homes feature rooftop solar panels

ZSTOCKPHOTOS/ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

Power grids across the globe face an increasing risk of cyberattacks, primarily due to the vulnerabilities inherent in home solar equipment.

With the rise of distributed energy resources like rooftop solar, grids are leaning more heavily on smart inverters that control connections to local power networks.

“While these technologies provide numerous advantages, they also bring forth new operational and cybersecurity hurdles,” says Sid Chau, a researcher at CSIRO, the Australian government’s research institute.

Smart inverters convert the direct current generated by solar panels into the alternating current required by electrical devices. They also optimize energy storage and enable remote monitoring via the Internet.

This web connectivity means that they not only jeopardize home solar installations but can also threaten larger power generation networks, warn Chau and his team.


The team has pinpointed various methods through which smart inverters can be compromised, including exploiting hardware and software vulnerabilities. Hackers can deceive users into granting excessive permissions on connected inverter applications or collaborate with manufacturers to embed malicious code directly into hardware.

Chau and his team modeled the threats stemming solely from Australian inverters, where roughly one-third of residences possess rooftop solar systems. This scenario mirrors certain power grids worldwide where civilian solar installations are becoming increasingly prevalent.

Although such attacks necessitate careful planning and coordination, researchers have discovered that a relatively small number of compromised solar smart inverters can create significant disruptions when vulnerabilities align.

Once a smart inverter is infiltrated, hackers can execute synchronized attacks targeting the broader power grid.

Of particular concern are assaults aimed at the frequency control of the power grid. In regions like Australia and Europe, the grid frequency must maintain around 50 HERTZ. Though safeguards exist, deviations can lead to cascading failures within the power system.

The risk is heightened further by the long lifespan of many inverters, often exceeding 15 years, which allows cybersecurity measures to quickly become outdated.

Chau emphasizes the need for improved monitoring of private inverters so that authorities can promptly address any suspicious activities that arise.

He also advocates for enhanced long-term support for inverter owners and regular compliance checks to guarantee adherence to cybersecurity and maintenance standards.

Zubair Baig from Deakin University in Melbourne stresses the importance of security validation for all imported inverters.

“Since these devices are often not produced domestically, there exists a risk that they might be configured with malware during manufacturing, leading to potential current fluctuations, permanent equipment damage, and even grid failure,” states Baig.

Ernest Foo from Griffith University in Brisbane highlights that Australia’s critical infrastructure is particularly susceptible to cyber threats due to its outdated design and components.

“The increasing integration of distributed solar energy heightens the likelihood of cyberattacks, especially with the evolving use of machine learning and AI,” he adds.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Israeli spyware used to target journalist in Italian WhatsApp survey

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A journalist received a WhatsApp notification stating that an Italian survey journalist, known for exposing young fascists within Georgia Meloni’s far-right party, was targeted by spyware made by Israel-based Paragon Solutions.

Francescan Cerat, the editor-in-chief of Italian Survey News Outlet Fan page, was among the 90 journalists and members of civil society targeted for spyware as announced by WhatsApp.

The journalist received a notification through a messaging app on Friday afternoon, along with many others whose identities were not yet known.

WhatsApp did not disclose the exact location of the targets but mentioned they were based in over 20 countries, including Europe.

In December, WhatsApp revealed that PARAGON was targeting users and had shut down a vector used for compromising individuals. Paragon sells its spyware, known as graphite, to government agencies like other spyware makers.

PARAGON distributed its spyware to targets through group chats without an actual group chat and sent malware via PDF. The spyware was designed to infect phones without the need for the user to click on any links or attachments.

It remains unclear how Cancellato was compromised, but the editor previously published a story exposing the fascist activities of Meloni’s far-right-wing members of the Youth Wing.

Cancellato stated that his mobile device had not shown signs of compromise and he had not been informed of any ongoing investigations. He described the news as a violation.

The meloni party faced criticism after the fan page’s publication. The European Commission spokesperson denounced fascism as morally wrong.

Victor Fadorn, President of the Roman Jewish community, called for strong action against hatred and discrimination following the fan page’s reports.

Paragon Solutions declined to provide any comment on the matter.

If you have received a WhatsApp notification, please contact: Stephanie.kirchgaessner@theguardian.com

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Hera probe sent to study asteroid target of NASA’s previous experiment

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On Monday, a spacecraft was launched to investigate. Space collision site.

The European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft was rocket-launched on a two-year journey to the small, harmless asteroid it crashed into. Two years ago, NASA During that day’s dress rehearsal, a killer space stone threatens Earth. The experiment, launched by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral, is the second in a series of planetary defense tests that could one day save the planet.

Crash in 2022 NASA dart spacecraft This shortens Dimorphos’ orbit around its larger brethren, indicating that if a dangerous rock is headed in our direction, it can be thrown off course with sufficient advance notice. I did.

Scientists want to study the impact’s aftermath up close to learn exactly how effective Dart was and what changes are needed to protect the planet in the future.

“The more details we can gather, the more details we can gather because it could be important in planning future deflection missions if they are needed,” University of Maryland astronomer Derek Richardson said before the launch. It’s good enough.”

Researchers want to know whether Dart (short for Double Asteroid Redirection Test) left behind a crater or changed the shape of the 500-foot (150-meter) asteroid more dramatically. Richardson, who participates in the dart mission and supports Hera, said that before the dart was shot, it looked like a flying saucer, but now it may resemble a kidney bean.

ESA’s Hera mission lifted off at 10:52 a.m. Monday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
S. Korbach / ESA

The flurry of darts sent debris and even rocks flying from Dimorphos, further increasing the force of the impact. The debris trail stretched thousands of miles (more than 10,000 kilometers) into space over several months.

Flight director Ignacio Tanco said rocks and other debris may still be floating around the asteroid, posing a potential threat to Hera.

“We don’t really know what kind of environment we’re going to operate in,” Tanko says. “But the whole point of this mission is to go out there and find out.”

European officials described the $400 million (363 million euro) mission as an “investigation of the accident scene.”

Project manager Ian Carnelli said Hera was “returning to the crime scene and obtaining all the scientific and technical information”.

Hera, which is about the size of a small car and carries more than a dozen scientific instruments, needs to fly past Mars in 2025 to increase its gravity and reach Dimorphos by the end of 2026. This is a satellite of the fast-spinning asteroid Didymos, which means twins in Greek. It’s 5 times bigger. At that point, the asteroid will be 120 million miles (195 million kilometers) from Earth.

Hera, controlled by a flight team in Darmstadt, Germany, will attempt to enter orbit around the pair of rocks as its flight range gradually decreases from 18 miles (30 kilometers) to half a mile (1 kilometer). The spacecraft will study the satellite for at least six months, determining its mass, shape, composition, and orbit around Didymos.

Before impact, Dimorphos circled its larger mate from three-quarters of a mile (1,189 meters) away. Scientists believe the orbit could become tighter and more elliptical, potentially even causing the satellite to fall off.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Wearable Sensors Target Heatstroke Detection for Worker Safety

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summary

  • Researchers are experimenting with biosensors that can monitor workers’ vital signs and provide warnings if they show signs of heatstroke.
  • The four-year study involves more than 150 farmworkers in Florida who have been wearing sensors in the fields.
  • Agricultural workers are 35 times more likely to die from heatstroke than other workers.

People who work outdoors are at greatest risk from extreme heat, which can be fatal within minutes, so researchers have begun experimenting with wearable sensors that can monitor workers’ vital signs and warn them if they are starting to show the early symptoms of heatstroke.

In Pearson, Florida, where temperatures can soar to nearly 90 degrees just before and after noon, workers on a fern farm wear experimental biopatches as part of a study sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency. National Institutes of HealthThe patch also measures a worker’s vital signs and skin hydration, and is equipped with a gyroscope to monitor continuous movement.

Scientists from Emory University and Georgia Tech are collecting data and feeding it into an artificial intelligence algorithm. The ultimate goal is for the AI to predict when workers are likely to suffer from heatstroke and send them a warning on their phone before that happens. But for now, the researchers are still analyzing the data and plan to publish a research paper next year.

“There’s a perception that field work is hot, and that’s the reality,” says Roxana Chicas, a nurse researcher at Emory University who has been overseeing Biopatch data collection. “I think with research and creativity, we can find ways to protect field workers.”

average 34 workers died of heatstroke According to the Environmental Protection Agency, farmworkers will be killed every year from 1992 to 2022. 35x odds Workers are more likely to die from heatstroke than other workers, but until now it has been left to states to decide how to protect workers from heatstroke. California, for example, requires employers to provide training, water, and shade when temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but many states have no such rules.

Chicas and his team partnered with the Florida Farmworkers Association to recruit participants for the study, aiming to have 100 workers wear the biopatch over the four-year study, but were surprised by how many volunteered, ultimately enrolling 166.

Participating workers arrive at work before dawn, receive a patch, have their vital signs monitored, and then head out into the fields before the hottest, most dangerous parts of the day.

“We hope this study will help improve working conditions,” study participant Juan Pérez said in Spanish, adding that he has worked in the fern fields for 20 years and would like more breaks and higher wages.

Other farmworkers said they hoped the study would shed light on just how tough their jobs are.

Study participant Antonia Hernandez, who lives in Pearson, said she often worries about the heat hazards facing her and her daughter, who both work in fern fields.

“When you don’t have a family, the only thing you worry about is the house and the rent,” Hernandez said in Spanish. “But when you have children, the truth is, there’s a lot of pressure and you have to work.”

Chicas said he could see the heat-related fatigue showing on some of the workers’ faces.

“They look much older than their real age, some of them look much older than their real age, because it takes a toll on their body and their health,” she said.

Chikas has been researching ways to protect farmworkers from the heat for nearly a decade. In a project that began in 2015, workers were fitted with bulky sensors that measured skin temperature, skin hydration, blood oxygen levels, and vital signs. This latest study is the first to test a lightweight biopatch that looks like a large bandage and is placed in the center of the chest.

Overall, wearable sensors are much easier to use, and some are becoming more widely used. While the biosensors that Cikas’ team is experimenting with aren’t yet available to the public, a brand called SlateSafety sells a system (sponsored by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) that is available to employers. The system includes an armband that transmits measurements of a worker’s core temperature to a monitoring system. If the temperature is too high, the employer can notify the worker to take a break.

A similar technology, called the Heat Stroke Prevention System, is used in the military. Developed by the U.S. Army Institute of Environmental Medicine, the system requires soldiers or Marines in a company to wear a chest strap that estimates core temperature, skin temperature and gait stability, allowing commanders to understand a soldier’s location and risk of heatstroke.

“The system is programmed to sense when a person is approaching higher than appropriate levels of heat exposure,” says Emma Atkinson, a biomedical researcher at the institute. stated in a news release “Our system allows us to provide warnings before heat stroke occurs, allowing us to intervene before someone collapses,” the report, released in February, added.

The system that Chicas and his team are developing differs from those systems in that it notifies workers directly, rather than in a larger system controlled by their employers. They haven’t finished collecting data from farmworkers yet, but the next step is for algorithms to start identifying patterns that might indicate risk of heatstroke.

“Outdoor workers need to spend time outdoors – otherwise food wouldn’t be harvested, ferns wouldn’t be cut, houses wouldn’t be built,” Chicas said. “With the growing threat of climate change, workers need something to better protect themselves.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The 1.5°C target may be out of reach, but climate action is still crucial

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AP Photo/François Mori, File/Alamy

As a COP26 During climate change negotiations in Glasgow, UK, in November 2021, a new slogan entered the vocabulary: “Stay at 1.5°C.” The phrase, on everyone’s lips from politicians to climate scientists, was aimed at maintaining the goals set as part of the Paris Agreement at the COP six years ago.twenty oneIn hindsight, this ambition was probably already fizzling out, destined to remain merely an empty slogan.

New Scientist The argument began in 2022, when expert opinion did not reflect their personal views or the data we were seeing. Scientists felt trapped and unable to speak out because limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels is still possible according to the laws of physics, but not realistic given the political, social and economic upheaval.

Since then, there has been a growing recognition that 1.5°C is unattainable, but there was no frank discussion of what that meant. Now, for the first time, researchers have explicitly rejected that, saying that 1.6°C is the best we can hope for, and that higher temperatures are more likely (see “Best-case scenario for climate change now is 1.6°C warming”).

Will policymakers finally realize that platitudes and slogans are not enough to combat climate change? Promises to “maintain” these targets are meaningless if we do not achieve the only means of preventing rising temperatures — reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other global-warming greenhouse gases to net zero.

Unfortunately, the phrase “net zero” is losing its original meaning as a description of atmospheric physics, and instead being used by many to mean “environmental policy I don’t like.” This is dangerous, because extreme temperature changes have locked us in a vicious cycle of emissions that only a net-zero energy system can break (see “Efforts to combat extreme temperatures are making the situation worse”). If we are to have any hope of limiting warming, we need to learn from the failure of “stay 1.5°C” and not let “net zero” become meaningless.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

FDA advises updating COVID-19 vaccine to target KP.2 variant

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The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday recommended that pharmaceutical companies develop coronavirus vaccines targeting the KP.2 strain, a descendant of the highly contagious JN.1 variant that began spreading widely in the United States this winter. The announcement comes just one week after an FDA advisory committee unanimously recommended updating COVID-19 vaccines in the fall to target the JN.1 variant or its descendants.

After the vote, there was disagreement between committee members and Dr. Peter Marks, the agency’s top vaccine regulator, over which strain the agency should choose. Most committee members expressed a preference for JN.1, but Dr. Marks favored choosing a newer strain like KP.2. “We’re paying an incredibly high premium for the mRNA vaccines to get the freshest vaccine,” Marks said, likening getting the vaccine to buying milk at the store.

The FDA said it had initially advised drugmakers on June 6 to target the JN.1 variant, but the agency continues to monitor circulating strains and “based on the latest available data and recent increases in COVID-19 cases in areas of the country, the FDA has further determined that the JN.1 lineage is preferred for improved vaccines,” with the KP.2 strain preferred “when possible,” the FDA said.

The JN.1 is hardly in circulation in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention As of Saturday, KP.2 accounted for 22.5% of new coronavirus cases in the U.S., while its sister variant, KP.3, accounted for 25% of new cases.

The FDA’s decision allows pharmaceutical companies to begin manufacturing and distributing the vaccine, which is expected to be used as part of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns this fall.

Three pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax, are producing coronavirus vaccines. Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines are mRNA-based, while Novavax’s vaccine is protein-based. Because protein-based vaccines take a long time to produce, Novavax has indicated that it will not be able to produce the KP.2 vaccine by the fall. Instead, it plans to distribute the JN.1 vaccine that it has already produced.

This is the third time the vaccine has been updated to target circulating strains. The process of selecting the next vaccine is becoming more routine, similar to the annual influenza vaccination update, with vaccinologists selecting the strains in the spring and then conducting vaccination campaigns in the fall.

At the advisory committee meeting, the pharmaceutical company presented data showing that compared to current vaccines that target the variant XBB.1.5, which is not currently in circulation, the JN.1 vaccine should generate higher levels of antibodies against circulating virus strains.

The committee did not recommend who should get the latest vaccine, leaving that to the CDC, which will be holding its own advisory committee meeting later this month.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Ransomware group issues warning that UK state is not profitable target | Cybercrime

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Ransomware gangs have targeted the UK state after reports emerged that the British Library successfully withstood a damaging cyberattack without succumbing to the demands of the hackers responsible for the ransomware. The library has made it clear that they did not pay any ransom to the attackers or engage with them in any way.

In a statement released as part of their review of the incident, the library emphasized, “The library has not made any payments to the criminals who carried out the attack nor is it associated with them in any way. Ransomware gangs looking to target publicly funded institutions in the future need to be aware of the UK’s national policy as outlined by the NCSC [National Cyber Security Centre], which clearly prohibits such payments.”

Public institutions around the world, including governments, hospitals, schools, and universities, are frequent targets of ransomware attacks. These attacks often involve encrypting or stealing sensitive data and demanding a ransom for its release or to restore access. Prompt ransom payments have been a common response due to insecure cybersecurity practices and the urgent need to restore operations.

The incident report from the British Library highlights that the National Cyber Security Centre is escalating efforts to combat ransomware threats despite previous government discouragement of ransom payments. The aftermath of the attack has left the library operating below capacity, with research services still incomplete months later.

While the library maintains secure copies of its digital collections, the lack of viable infrastructure for restoration has hindered the recovery process. Efforts to combat ransomware have faced challenges with Russia’s withdrawal from international cybercrime cooperation following its invasion of Ukraine.

Recent crackdowns on ransomware gangs by international law enforcement agencies have shown some success, including the seizure of equipment belonging to the Rockbit gang. However, concerns have been raised by the government’s handling of the ransomware threat, with calls for increased attention and resources to address the growing cyber-attack landscape.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Why do killer whales target and attack porpoises instead of preying on them?

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Killer whales have been observed harassing porpoises in the Salish Sea, a behavior that has puzzled scientists for years. A study by Wild Orca and the SeaDoc Society at the University of California, Davis is investigating what may be behind it.Credit: Wild Orca

Scientists are investigating mysterious behavior.

Scientists have long been perplexed by the behavior of fish-eating killer whales in the Pacific Northwest. Killer whales have been seen harassing porpoises and sometimes killing them instead of eating them.

In a recently published study, marine mammal scienceCo-led by Deborah Giles of Wild Killer Whales and Sarah Teman of the Sea Dog Society, a program at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the 60-year record between southern killer whales and porpoises in the Salish Sea We investigated the above interactions. You can better understand why they exhibit this behavior.

Southern killer whales are endangered, with only 75 individuals left. Their survival is closely tied to the fate of Chinook salmon, which is also an endangered species. seed. Without enough Chinook salmon, these whales are at risk of extinction.

“I’m often asked: Why don’t southerners eat seals and porpoises instead?” Giles said. “That’s because fish-eating killer whales have a completely different ecology and culture than marine mammal-eating killer whales, even though they live in the same ocean area. Therefore, interactions with porpoises We must conclude that there is another purpose, but this purpose has hitherto been speculative.”

Three plausible explanations

Scientists recorded instances of southern resident killer whales harassing porpoises as early as 1962, but the reason for this behavior remained a mystery for a long time. Giles, Teman, and a team of collaborators analyzed his 78 porpoise harassment incidents recorded from 1962 to 2020. This study suggests three plausible explanations.

  • Social play: Harassing porpoises may be a form of social play for killer whales. Like many intelligent species, these whales may engage in playful activities to bond, communicate, or simply have fun. This behavior can benefit group coordination and teamwork.
  • Hunting practice: Another hypothesis suggests that harassing porpoises may hone their salmon-hunting skills. Southern resident killer whales may view porpoises as moving targets to practice their hunting skills, even if they don’t intend to eat them.
  • Abusive behavior: This theory suggests that the whales may be trying to care for porpoises that they perceive to be weak or sick. This is an expression of the whale’s natural tendency to help other dolphins in the group. Females have been seen carrying dead calves, as well as porpoises.

“Abusive behavior, also known to scientists as ‘left-behind behavior,’ may be due to children having limited opportunities to care for them,” Giles explained. “Our research found that malnutrition causes nearly 70 percent of southern killer whale pregnancies to miscarry or for the calves to die shortly after birth.”

salmon specialist

Despite these interesting insights, Giles, Teman, and their collaborators acknowledge that the exact reasons behind porpoise harassment may never be fully understood. .But what is clear is that porpoises do not have Part of the diet of southern resident killer whales. Southern killer whales have a diet so specialized in salmon that the idea of ​​them eating porpoises is highly unlikely.

“Orcas are incredibly complex and intelligent animals. We found that harassing behavior toward porpoises has been passed down through generations and across social groups. It’s a great example,” says Teman. “Still, we don’t expect southern-dwelling killer whales to start eating porpoises. The salmon-eating culture is deeply rooted in southern-dwelling societies. For these whales to survive, healthy salmon populations are essential. We need numbers.”

This study highlights the importance of protecting salmon populations in the Salish Sea and throughout whale range. Maintaining an adequate supply of salmon is critical to the survival and well-being of Southern killer whales and the overall health of the Salish Sea ecosystem.

affinity for play

The study was conducted at a time when distinct killer whale populations on the Iberian Peninsula drew international headlines for interacting, sinking ships three times off the coasts of Portugal and Spain. After all, southern killer whales and killer whales of the Iberian Peninsula are two distinct populations with different cultures. What the two have in common is an affinity for play behavior.

Reference: “Harassment and Killing of Porpoises by Fish-Eating Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) (‘Phocoenacide’)” Deborah A. Giles, Sarah J. Teman, Samuel Ellis, John K.B. Ford, Monica W. Shields, M. Bradley Hanson, Candice K. Emmons, Paul E. Cottrell, Robin W. Baird, Richard W. Osborn, Michael Weiss, David K. Ellifritt. , Jennifer K. Olson, Jared R. Towers, Graham Ellis, Dena Matkin, Courtney E. Smith, Stephen A. Laverty, Stephanie A. Norman, Joseph K. Gaydos, September 28, 2023 , marine mammal science.

DOI: 10.1111/mms.13073

This research was funded by Wild Orca and the SeaDoc Society. Additional partners include the University of Exeter, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Orca Behavior Institute, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Cascadia Research Institute, Whale Museum, Center for Whale Research, Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) at Everett Community College, and Gulf Zoology. , North Gulf Coast Marine Society, George Mason University, Institute of Marine Medicine.

Source: scitechdaily.com