Tag Archives: trio

London City Council Implements Emergency Plan Following Trio of Cyber Attacks

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Three councils in London have experienced cyberattacks, leading to the activation of emergency plans to determine if any data was compromised.

The Royal Boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, which share portions of their IT infrastructure, along with Westminster City Council, reported that several systems, including telephone communications, were impacted across both councils. As a precaution, the city council disabled several computer systems to prevent additional harm.

The Information Commissioner’s Office confirmed that the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham also reported being affected by the attack. Collectively, these three councils serve over 500,000 residents in London. In 2020, Hackney City Council was hit by a ransomware attack that encrypted 440,000 files, leading to disciplinary measures from the ICO.

Engineers from RBKC worked tirelessly through Monday and Tuesday to address the incident. They noted that services such as checking council tax bills and paying parking fines could face restrictions, and the website might be temporarily suspended on Wednesday while security measures are implemented.

In a statement from the council, it was mentioned: “We do not have all the answers yet, as we are still managing this incident. However, we are aware that there are concerns among the public, and we will provide updates to our residents and partners in the coming days. At this point, it is too early to determine the perpetrator or motive, but we are investigating whether any data may have been compromised. This is standard procedure.”

The agency and the City of Westminster have stated they are collaborating with cyber incident specialists and the National Cyber Security Center, focusing on safeguarding systems and data, restoring systems, and sustaining essential public services.

These boroughs share some IT resources with Hammersmith and Fulham, and it remains unclear how significantly they were impacted.

RBKC added: “We have activated our business continuity and emergency protocols to ensure that we can continue providing vital services to our residents, especially for the most vulnerable.”

Westminster City Council shared in a statement: “We apologize for any inconvenience to our residents and appreciate your patience and understanding. There may be delays in our responses and services over the coming days. We are committed to working closely with our cyber experts and the NCSC to restore all systems promptly. We will inform you as soon as more details become available, and we strive to keep you updated on any service changes.”

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The incident was identified on Monday morning, raising concerns in other councils. Hackney, located in east London and previously affected by a land survey, housing, and planning services disruption in 2020, stated to its staff: “We have received reports that several London councils have been targeted by cyber-attacks in the last 24 to 48 hours, which could cause disruptions to their systems and services.”

Rob Miller, former IT director at Hackney City Council and now senior director at consultancy Public Digital, remarked: “When such an event occurs, you feel an immediate sense of dread as you realize the challenges in getting everything back on track. It’s an incredibly distressing experience.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Trio Awarded Nobel Prize in Economics for Research on Growth Fueled by Technology

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This year’s Nobel Prize in Economics has been awarded to three experts who explore the influence of technology on economic growth.

Joel Mokyr from Northwestern University receives half of the prize, amounting to 11 million Swedish kronor (£867,000), while the remaining portion is shared between Philippe Aghion from the Collège de France, INSEAD Business School, and the London School of Economics, alongside Peter Howitt from Brown University.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced this award during a period marked by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and ongoing discussions about its societal implications, stating that the trio laid the groundwork for understanding “economic growth through innovation.”


This accolade comes at a time when nations worldwide are striving to rejuvenate economic growth, which has faced stagnation since the 2008 financial crisis, with rising concerns about sluggish productivity, slow improvements in living standards, and heightened political tensions.

Aghion has cautioned that “dark clouds” are forming amid President Donald Trump’s trade war, which heightens trade barriers. He emphasized that fostering innovation in green industries and curbing the rise of major tech monopolies are crucial for sustaining growth in the future.

“We cannot support the wave of protectionism in the United States, as it hinders global growth and innovation,” he noted.

While accepting the award, he pointed out that AI holds “tremendous growth potential” but urged governments to implement stringent competition policies to handle the growth of emerging tech firms. “A few leading companies may end up monopolizing the field, stifling new entrants and innovation. How can we ensure that today’s innovators do not hinder future advancements?”

The awards committee indicated that technological advancements have fueled continuous economic growth for the last two centuries, yet cautioned that further progress cannot be assumed.

Mokyr, a Dutch-born Israeli-American economic historian, was recognized for his research on the prerequisites for sustained growth driven by technological progress. Aghion and Howitt were honored for their examination of how “creative destruction” is pivotal for fostering growth.

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“We must safeguard the core mechanisms of creative destruction to prevent sliding back into stagnation,” remarked John Hassler, chairman of the Economics Prize.

Established in the 1960s, the professional National Bank of Sweden awarded the Economics Prize in memory of Alfred Nobel.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Trio Pioneering Quantum Computing Chips

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John Clarke, Michel Devolette and John Martinis awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics

Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images

The prestigious 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to John Clarke, Michel Devolette, and John Martinis. Their research elucidates how quantum particles can delve through matter, a critical process that underpins the superconducting quantum technology integral to modern quantum computers.

“I was completely caught off guard,” Clarke remarked upon hearing the news from the Nobel Committee. “This outcome was unimaginable; it felt like a dream to be considered for the Nobel Prize.”

Quantum particles exhibit numerous peculiar behaviors, including their stochastic nature and the restriction to specific energy levels instead of a continuous range. This phenomenon sometimes leads to unforeseen occurrences, such as tunneling through solid barriers. Such unusual characteristics were first revealed by pioneers like Erwin Schrödinger during the early years of quantum mechanics.

The implications of these discoveries are profound, particularly supporting theories like nuclear decay; however, earlier research was limited to individual particles and basic systems. It remained uncertain whether more intricate systems such as electronic circuits, conventionally described by classical physics, also adhered to these principles. For instance, the quantum tunneling effect seemed to vanish when observing larger systems.

In 1985, the trio from the University of California, Berkeley—Clarke, Martinis, and Devolette—sought to change this narrative. They investigated the properties of charged particles traversing a superconducting circuit known as the Josephson Junction, a device that earned the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1973 for British physicist Brian Josephson. These junctions comprise wires exhibiting zero electrical resistance, separated by an insulating barrier.

The researchers demonstrated that particles navigating through these junctions behaved as individual entities, adopting distinct energy levels, clear quantum attributes, and registering voltages beyond expected limits without breaching the adiabatic barrier.

This groundbreaking discovery significantly deepened our understanding of how to harness similar superconducting quantum systems, transforming the landscape of quantum science and enabling other scientists to conduct precise quantum physics experiments on silicon chips.

Moreover, superconducting quantum circuits became foundational to the essential components of quantum computers, known as qubits. Developed by companies like Google and IBM, the most advanced quantum computers today consist of hundreds of superconducting qubits, a result of the insights gained from Clarke, Martinis, and Devolette’s research. “In many respects, our findings serve as the cornerstone of quantum computing,” stated Clarke.

Both Martinis and Devolette are currently affiliated with Google Quantum AI, where they pioneered the first superconducting quantum computer in 2019 that demonstrated quantum advantage over traditional machines. However, Clarke noted to the Nobel Committee that it was surprising to consider the extent of impact their 1985 study has had. “Who could have imagined that this discovery would hold such immense significance?”

Topics:

  • Nobel Prize/
  • Quantum Computing

Source: www.newscientist.com

Nobel Prize in Medicine Awarded to Trio for Contributions to Immune Resistance

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Mary Blankku, Fred Ramsdell, and Sato Shimajimajima have been announced as winners of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine by Committee Executive Director Thomas Perman.

Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to three groundbreaking researchers: Mary Blank, Fred Ramsdel, and Shimon Sakaguchi. They have made significant discoveries regarding a unique type of immune cell that prevents the immune system from attacking its own body.

“We have opened up an entirely new area in immunology,” stated Marie Warren Hellenius from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

T cells, a type of immune cell, are crucial for detecting and neutralizing harmful viruses and bacteria. These cells are continuously produced throughout a person’s life.

At times, newly formed T cell receptors may mistakenly target the body’s own proteins instead of those from viruses or bacteria, resulting in autoimmune disorders like type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

The body possesses mechanisms to eliminate autoreactive T cells, with newly generated ones migrating to the thymus for evaluation. This has long been believed to be the sole process for the removal of self-targeting T cells.

Yet in 1995, Sakaguchi, now at Osaka University, demonstrated through a mouse study that other circulating cells in the bloodstream must provide some form of protection against autoreactive T cells. When the thymus is removed post-birth, mice develop autoimmune conditions; however, this outcome is averted when healthy T cells are introduced. His research identified that these particular T cells feature the CD25 protein on their surface, thereby classifying them as CD25-regulated T cells.

Meanwhile, Blankku, currently affiliated with the Institute of Systems Biology in Seattle, and Ramsdell, who advises Sonoma Bitherapeutics in San Francisco, studied mouse strains predisposed to autoimmune diseases. In 2001, Brunkow and Ramsdell identified that these mice possess mutations in a gene located on the X chromosome, specifically FOXP3.

Individuals with mutations in this gene are particularly susceptible to autoimmune disorders due to a condition known as IPEX syndrome. In 2003, Sakaguchi connected these findings, showing that the FOXP3 gene is integral to the development of the CD25-regulated cells his team had identified. Many researchers previously remained skeptical of Sakaguchi’s assertions, according to Warren Hellenius. However, the findings from Brunkow and Ramsdell solidified the case.

The discovery of regulatory T cells could pave the way for improved treatments across a variety of conditions. Increasing the presence of regulatory T cells may help mitigate autoimmune responses that lead to diseases like type 1 diabetes. Conversely, reducing these cells can amplify the immune system’s response against cancer. Numerous clinical trials are currently being conducted.

“Their discoveries have been fundamental in understanding the workings of the immune system and explaining why serious autoimmune diseases don’t universally develop,” remarked Orkenpe, the chairman of the Nobel Committee, in a statement.

Topics:

  • Immune system/
  • Nobel Prize

Source: www.newscientist.com

Clipping, Daveed Diggs’ Sci-Fi Rap Trio, Discusses Constant Conflict in Capitalism: “We’re Always at War”

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aSA Child, Dave Diggs and his school friends William Hutson were inspired by the space age album covers of Funk Legends. Drawing pictures filled with sparkling UFOs and quirky interplanetary travelers, Diggs went on to become an actor. He won a Tony Award for his roles in Hamilton as the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, and later portrayed Sebastian’s crab in a live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. He also appeared in the Nickel Boys, which received two Oscar nominations this year. Despite his success in Hollywood and on Broadway, he still dreams of a fantastic sci-fi world with Hutson.

Another college roommate of Hutson, Jonathan Snipes, who had similar childhood experiences and was also inspired by otherworldly paintings, formed a friendship with Diggs. Together, they formed clipping in Los Angeles in 2010. Through Hutson and Snipes’ productions, Diggs weaved a bloody horror story about racial violence and the fatalisms of enslaved people in the universe. Their latest album, Dead Channel Sky, features Diggs rapping with mechanical precision over distorted Rave Music, creating a cyberpunk world for hackers, club fans, and future avatars.

Their music has earned them nominations for the Hugo Awards, the highest honor in science fiction. What sets them apart is Diggs’ decision to avoid using the first person in his lyrics, creating a unique storytelling experience akin to film or musical theater. By leaving out personal pronouns, their songs allow listeners to project themselves onto the characters and make connections between songs that weren’t initially intended.

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Hutson criticizes mainstream hip-hop for its narrow constraints and emphasis on individualism, while clipping remains adaptable and authentic. Their music, described as “a CD compilation found in a future bin” by Hutson, is filled with storytelling where Diggs embodies different characters in each song, highlighting societal issues through vivid narratives.

Touching on themes of war, capitalism, and technology, clipping’s music draws inspiration from classic sci-fi tropes, creating parallels with life in the West today. Their latest work, Dead Channel Sky, is influenced by William Gibson’s Cyberpunk novel Neuromancer and explores the relationship between physical and digital realities.

Dead Channel Sky will be released on March 14th via Subpop

Source: www.theguardian.com