Impact of UK Spending Cuts on CERN’s Large Hadron Collider
Traczyk, Piotr/CERN 2021-2024
British scientists are raising alarms over the potential “catastrophic” effects of impending budget cuts on physics research. With public funding agencies facing an average 30% reduction, groups are preparing for possible cuts of up to 60%.
Many research teams may lose their funding entirely, leading to a decline in research jobs and a potential withdrawal from significant international projects, including CERN, the prestigious particle physics laboratory located near Geneva, Switzerland.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the public body responsible for funding science and business, has delineated a £38.6 billion budget over the next four years. Although UKRI claims this figure does not account for inflation, it suggests a marginal increase. However, physics researchers predict substantial cuts are imminent.
UKRI’s budgetary plans aim to bolster scientific research while benefiting the national economy. As CEO Ian Chapman asserted in a February 5 press briefing, the organization must prioritize commercialization and make hard choices for the greatest national impact.
UKRI allocates grants through nine councils, including the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) which specializes in particle physics, nuclear physics, and astronomy, covering financial commitments to CERN and the European Space Agency. STFC is anticipated to bear the majority of the cuts, with reports indicating a staggering £162 million reduction.
Grant recipients of STFC have been advised to brace for an overall funding reduction of 30%. Additionally, they have been asked to devise budget alternatives anticipating 20%, 40%, and 60% cuts. The Institute of Physics (IOP) deemed this news “a devastating blow” to British physics foundations.
IOP President-elect Paul Howarth warned that these cuts would undermine “our understanding of space and humanity’s progress.” He emphasized that cutting UK funding would diminish the nation’s experimental capacity, stifling innovation and economic growth. “We implore the Government to reconsider its funding strategies,” he stated.
Michelle Doherty, STFC’s executive chairman, acknowledged the organization’s overly ambitious goals. “We are stretching our resources too thinly and are facing tough years ahead,” she remarked. “Our current budget restricts us from achieving all our objectives.”
During her briefing, Doherty highlighted the end of international collaboration in particle physics due to financial constraints, a reality that partners abroad are also grappling with.
John Ellis, a professor at King’s College London, cautioned that job reductions would damage the UK’s standing among international research collaborators. “Such actions tarnish the UK’s reputation as a dependable partner,” he noted.
Projects like the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), instrumental in discovering the Higgs boson, are at risk. Funding was allocated for upgrades during the experimental shutdown. “We face uncertainty about future solutions,” Ellis lamented.
Another LHC initiative, LHCb, which examines the matter-antimatter disparity, may also see its budget eliminated, jeopardizing essential upgrades. Reports suggest the UKRI’s funding for the U.S.-led electron-ion collider in New York is also at risk. UKRI has not clarified the status of these projects when approached for comment by New Scientist.
Ellis warned that significant cuts to physics research could hamper the UK’s future by eliminating opportunities for postdocs and junior researchers. “This isn’t a minor setback; it risks stifling a generation of young scientists,” he argued.
Jim Al Khalili, a professor at the University of Surrey, echoed these concerns, pointing out the potential decline in skill and knowledge necessary for the country’s nuclear industry and wider research initiatives. “These proposed budget reductions would devastate our communities,” he asserted.
Alicia Grated of the Science and Engineering Campaign, representing UK research institutions, noted that miscommunication regarding the cuts has resulted in confusion and uncertainty. “Clarity is crucial, regardless of the reasons behind the decision to rescind STFC funding,” she emphasized. “Any decrease in support for STFC’s resources could threaten a fundamental segment of our research ecosystem.”
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This month, nine seismic observatories in Alaska are expected to lose power, leaving tsunami forecasters without essential data to assess whether an earthquake could generate destructive waves heading toward the West Coast.
These stations depended on federal support that lapsed last year, and the Trump administration declined to renew it this fall. Information from the observatories is vital for researchers studying the size and shape of earthquakes occurring along the Alaska subduction zone, a fault known for producing some of the globe’s most potent earthquakes, thereby endangering California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii.
Michael West, director of the Alaska Earthquake Center, mentioned that the removal of the observatory could postpone the notification of a potential tsunami in Alaska’s coastal regions, with areas like Washington state potentially facing less precise forecasts.
“Statistically, the last tsunami in the United States originated from Alaska, and the next one will likely follow suit,” he stated.
This is yet another setback for the U.S. tsunami warning system, which has already been grappling with underfunding and staff shortages. Researchers are alarmed that the network might be on the verge of collapse.
“The entire tsunami warning system is regressing,” West said. “There are numerous issues at play.”
In the United States, there are two tsunami warning centers that operate continuously—one in Palmer, Alaska, and another in Honolulu. These centers provide forecasts that assist emergency managers in deciding if coastal evacuations are necessary after an earthquake. Data from Alaska’s seismic stations has historically been integral to the center’s operations.
Both centers are already experiencing staffing shortages; currently, only 11 of the 20 full-time positions at the Alaska center are filled, as reported by Tom Fahey, union legislative director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization. Meanwhile, in Hawaii, four out of 16 positions remain vacant. (Fahey indicated both sites are looking to hire scientists.)
Furthermore, funding for the National Tsunami Hazard Reduction Program, which finances the majority of state tsunami risk reduction initiatives, has been slashed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In 2025, a mere $4 million was allocated—significantly less than the historic $6 million provided.
“You’re on life support,” West remarked regarding the program.
Tsunami evacuation route sign in Bolinas, California.Steven Lamb/San Francisco Chronicle, via Getty Images file
Additionally, due to probationary layoffs in February under the Trump administration, NOAA terminated Corinna Allen, director of the National Weather Service’s tsunami program, as reported by Washington state seismologist Harold Tobin. Allen, who had just recently joined the agency, refrained from commenting through a spokesperson for her new employer, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
These recent reductions coincide with the Trump administration’s broader strategy to cut federal spending, especially on science and climate research. NOAA enacted cuts in February, including hundreds of layoffs, reductions in weather balloon launches, and a halt to research on climate and weather disaster costs.
Most of the closed seismic stations in Alaska are located in isolated regions of the Aleutian Islands. West noted that this chain extends westward from the Alaska Peninsula towards Russia, following a subduction zone on the ocean floor. KHNS is Alaska’s public radio station, which first reported the news of the stations going offline.
A NOAA grant of approximately $300,000 annually had supported these stations. The Alaska Earthquake Center sought a new grant to continue operations through 2028 but was turned down, according to emails between West and NOAA officials examined by NBC News.
NOAA spokesperson Kim Doster stated that the federal agency ceased funding in 2024 under the Biden administration. Uma Bhatt, a professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and deputy director of the institute managing the grant, mentioned that the University of Alaska Fairbanks managed to raise funds in the spring to keep the program running for another year, anticipating that federal support would follow. Unfortunately, that funding never materialized.
“The removal of these observations does not hinder the Tsunami Warning Center from fulfilling its mission,” Doster remarked. “AEC [Alaska Earthquake Center] is one among many partners aiding the National Weather Service’s tsunami initiatives, and the NWS continues using various methods to guarantee the collection of seismic data throughout Alaska.”
The White House has not responded to requests for comment.
West indicated that the Alaska Earthquake Center supplies a significant portion of the data utilized for tsunami alerts in the state. The grant funding the nine seismic stations also facilitated a data stream that included inputs from the center’s additional sensors. Consequently, tsunami warning centers across the nation will no longer have direct access to that data feed.
West noted that the stations spread across the Aleutian Islands cover an extensive geographical expanse.
“There’s nothing else in the vicinity,” he pointed out. “It’s not like there’s another piece of equipment 20 miles away; there aren’t even any roads.”
West intends to abandon the station later this month but will leave the equipment behind.
Washington State’s Tobin expressed concerns that the closures “might lead to delays and diminish the quality of tsunami warnings.”
“Surveillance is sparse in this region. We need to be vigilant,” he remarked, adding, “These programs often operate unnoticed until a critical event occurs.”
The Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone stands out as one of the most active fault lines globally, having previously triggered substantial tsunamis. In 1964, a magnitude 9.2 earthquake unleashed a tsunami that claimed 124 lives, with 13 fatalities in California and five in Oregon. The majority of California’s casualties occurred in Crescent City, where waves reaching 6 meters obliterated 29 city blocks, according to the city’s website.
Experts in tsunami studies emphasized that the observatory stations in the Aleutian Islands are crucial for the swift identification of nearby earthquakes. The closer an earthquake is to a sensor, the lower the uncertainty regarding the resulting tsunami.
NOAA’s Tsunami Warning Center aims to generate an initial forecast within five minutes, which is vital for local communities. (In the event of a significant earthquake in the Aleutian Islands, the first waves could reach nearby Alaskan towns within minutes.) The only data available quickly enough to facilitate these initial projections comes from seismic signals, as opposed to buoy-mounted tide gauges or pressure sensors.
Subsequently, the warning center provides a more detailed wave height prediction about 40 minutes later. Daniel Ungaard, director of tsunami programs at the Washington Geological Survey, noted that without sensors in Alaska, there would be increased uncertainty about projected wave heights, complicating decisions on whether to initiate evacuations along Washington’s coastline.
“We strive to avoid unnecessary evacuations,” he explained, emphasizing that unwarranted alerts could result in wasted time, resources, and credibility.
Last year, tsunami warning centers nationwide were inundated. In December, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake near Cape Mendocino, California, activated a tsunami warning along the coast. July saw an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting a widespread warning along the U.S. West Coast, just west of the Aleutian Islands.
NOAA has been instrumental in establishing many seismic observatories that form part of the Alaska Earthquake Center network. However, West mentioned that over the past two decades, the agency has decreased its support. The nine bases developed by NOAA were decommissioned in 2013.
“Now is the moment for NOAA to decide on their commitment,” he declared. “I aim to ignite a conversation about tsunami preparedness in the United States, ensuring it doesn’t merely arise in response to the next catastrophic tsunami.”
When the Mendocino earthquake erupted off the California coast in 2024, it shook structures from their very foundations, triggered a 3-inch tsunami, and sparked intriguing scientific investigations in the server room of a nearby police station.
More than two years prior to the quake, scientists had installed a device known as the “Dispersed Acoustic Sensing Interrogation Room” at the Alcata Police Station located near the coast. This device utilizes a laser directed through a fiber optic cable that provides internet connectivity to the station, detecting how the laser light bends as it returns.
Recently, researchers revealed in a study published in the Journal Science that data collected from fiber optic cables can effectively be used to “image” the Mendocino earthquake.
This research demonstrates how scientists can convert telecommunication cables into seismometers, providing detailed earthquake data at the speed of light. Experts noted that this rapidly advancing technology has the potential to enhance early earthquake warning systems, extending the time available for individuals to take safety measures, and could be critical for predicting major earthquakes in the future.
James Atterholt, a research geophysicist for the US Geological Survey and lead author of the study, stated, “This is the first study to image the seismic rupture process from such a significant earthquake. It suggests that early earthquake warning alerts could be improved using telecom fibers.”
The study proposes equipping seismometers with devices capable of gathering sparse data from the extensive network of telecommunications cables utilized by companies such as Google, Amazon, and AT&T, making monitoring submarine earthquakes—often costly—more affordable.
Emily Brozky, a professor of geoscience at the University of California, Santa Cruz, asserted that “early earthquake warnings could be dramatically improved tomorrow” if scientists can establish widespread access to existing communication networks.
“There are no technical barriers to overcome, and that’s precisely what Atterholt’s research emphasizes,” Brozky mentioned in an interview.
In the long term, leveraging this technology through fiber optic cables could enable researchers to explore the possibility of forecasting some of the most devastating earthquakes in advance.
Scientists have observed intriguing patterns in underwater subduction zones prior to significant earthquakes, including Chile’s magnitude 8.1 quake in 2014 and the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Both of these major earthquakes were preceded by what are known as “slow slip” events that gradually release energy over weeks or months without causing noticeable shaking.
The scientific community is still uncertain about what this pattern signifies, as high-magnitude earthquakes (8.0 or greater) are rare and seldom monitored in detail.
Effective monitoring of seismic activity using telecommunications networks could enable scientists to accurately document these events and assess whether discernible patterns exist that could help predict future disasters.
Brodsky remarked, “What we want to determine is whether the fault will slip slowly before it gives way entirely. We keep observing these signals from afar, but what we need is an up-close and personal instrument to navigate the obstacles.”
While Brodsky emphasized that it’s still unclear whether earthquakes in these extensive subduction zones can be predicted, she noted that the topic is a major source of scientific discussion, with the new fiber optic technology potentially aiding in resolving this issue.
For nearly 10 years, researchers have been investigating earthquake monitoring through optical fiber cables. Brodsky stated that the study highlights the need for collaboration among the federal government, scientific community, and telecommunications providers to negotiate access.
“There are valid concerns; they worry about people installing instruments on their highly valuable assets and about the security of cables and privacy,” Brozky explained regarding telecom companies. “However, it is evident that acquiring this data also serves the public’s safety interests, which makes it a regulatory issue that needs to be addressed.”
Atterholt clarified that fiber optic sensing technology is not intended to replace traditional seismometers, but rather to complement existing data and is more cost-effective than placing seismometers on the seabed. Generally, using cables for earthquake monitoring does not interfere with their primary function of data transmission.
Jiaxuan Li, an assistant professor of geophysics and seismology at the University of Houston, noted he was not involved in the study but mentioned that there are still technical challenges to the implementation of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology, which currently functions over distances of approximately 90 miles.
Li also pointed out that similar methods are being employed in Iceland to monitor magma movements in volcanoes.
“We utilized DAS to facilitate early warnings for volcanic eruptions,” Li explained. “The Icelandic Meteorological Office is now using this technology for issuing early alerts.”
Additionally, the technique indicated that the Mendocino tremors were rare “supershear” earthquakes, which occur when fault fractures advance quicker than seismic waves can travel. Atterholt likened it to a fighter jet exceeding the speed of sound.
New research has serendipitously uncovered patterns associated with Mendocino, providing fresh insights into this phenomenon.
“We still have not fully grasped why some earthquakes become supershear while others do not,” Atterholt reflected. “This could potentially alter the danger level of an earthquake, but the correlation remains unclear.”
This weekend, powerful and destructive thunderstorms are anticipated in the Midwest, Central Plains, and Southeast, leading to heavy rain and flash flooding in the upcoming days.
By early Saturday, rain and strong wind gusts had already left over 50,000 residents in Nebraska without power. Poweroutage.us. The National Weather Service warns that severe weather may still be unfolding.
The agency forecasts “massive nocturnal thunderstorms” affecting parts of the Midwest from the weekend through Monday.
Clusters of thunderstorms, especially during nighttime, are likely to produce “very heavy rain” along corridors extending from northern Missouri to southern Iowa and southern Wisconsin. The National Weather Service reports.
Consequently, there is a significant flash flood threat across the region.
In the Southeast, storms are expected to persist, particularly in northern Florida and southern Georgia this weekend, accompanied by heavy rainfall.
“The daily heavy rains on already saturated ground present localized flooding risks, especially along the coast in southeastern Georgia,” the local NWS branch in Jacksonville, Florida, stated in their weekend predictions.
Central and South Florida may experience numerous showers and slow-moving storms, leading to damaging winds and heavy downpours, according to the NWS.
Meanwhile, the Southwest is grappling with record-breaking heat. Triple-digit temperatures are widespread in Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico, with Phoenix hitting 118 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, breaking the city’s daily record. Other Arizona cities, including Scottsdale, Yuma, Bryce, and Deer Valley, have also reported similar daily temperature records. The National Weather Service confirmed.
Although the weekend temperatures in Arizona and other areas of the Southwest Desert are expected to be less extreme than recent highs, the NWS indicates that high temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit are still possible.
In Albuquerque, Friday’s high of 101 degrees Fahrenheit shattered the previous record of 98 degrees F set in 2011. The NWS reported. A heat advisory remains in effect until Saturday evening, just before a storm moves through central and northeastern New Mexico on Sunday.
The report indicates that far-right extremists are leveraging livestream gaming platforms to recruit and radicalize teenagers.
Recent research published in the journal Frontiers of Psychology reveals how various extremist groups are utilizing chats and live streams during video games to attract and radicalize mainly young men and vulnerable users.
The UK counter-crime and terrorism agency is urging parents to remain vigilant as online criminals specifically target youth during the summer break.
In an unprecedented step, last week, the counter-terrorism police, MI5, and the National Crime Agency issued a joint alert to parents and guardians that online perpetrators would “exploit school holidays to engage in criminal activities with young people when they know that less support is readily available.”
Dr. William Allshan, a senior researcher at the Institute for International Police and Public Conservation at Anglia Ruskin University, who conducted this study with her colleague Dr. Elisa Orofino, stated that the “game adjacency” platform is being used as a “digital playground” for extremist activities.
AllChorn has found that extremists have intentionally redirected teenagers from mainstream social media platforms to these gaming sites.
The most prevalent ideology among extremist users was far-right, which glorifies extreme violence and shares content related to school shootings.
Felix Winter, who threatened to execute a mass shooting at a school in Edinburgh on Tuesday, was sentenced to six years after the court revealed that the 18-year-old had been “radicated” online and spent over 1,000 hours interacting with a pro-Nazi group.
AllChorn noted a significant increase in coordinated efforts by far-right groups like patriotic alternatives to recruit youth through gaming events that arose during the lockdown. However, since that time, individuals have been concealing themselves in public groups or channels on Facebook and Discord, as many extremist factions have been pushed out of mainstream platforms.
He further explained that younger users might gravitate towards extreme content for its shock value among peers, which could render them susceptible to being targeted.
Extremists have had to adapt their methods, as most platforms have banned them, Allchorn said. “We consulted with local community safety teams, and they emphasized the importance of building trust rather than overtly promoting ideologies.”
This research was also deliberated upon with moderators. Moderators expressed concerns regarding inconsistent enforcement policies on the platforms and their burden of deciding whether to report certain content or users to law enforcement.
While in-game chats are not specifically moderated, moderators reported being overwhelmed by the sheer volume and complexity of harmful content, including the use of coded symbols to bypass automated moderation tools.
Allchorn emphasized the importance of digital literacy for parents and law enforcement so they may better grasp how these platforms and their subcultures function.
Last October, MI5’s head Ken McCallum revealed that “13% of all individuals being investigated by MI5 for terrorism-related activities in the UK are under the age of 18.”
AI tools are employed to assist in moderation but often struggle with interpreting memes or when language is unclear or sarcastic.
The coastline of Shiogama, Japan, where a tsunami warning was issued following a significant earthquake
Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images
On July 29, a strong earthquake struck near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting a quick tsunami warning that allowed millions to evacuate safely. Although no unexpected waves materialized, the swift response demonstrates the progress made in tsunami science since the devastating tsunamis in 2004 and 2011, which cost tens of thousands of lives.
“This is an excellent accomplishment built on lessons learned from previous incidents,” said Ravindra Jayaratne, a researcher at the University of East London, UK.
The efficiency of the warning system can be attributed to an enhanced network of tsunami detection sensors. This includes seismometers that detect earthquake tremors and a series of buoys managed by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which assess wave heights and relay crucial information to satellites. Improved modeling techniques enable researchers at the Tsunami Warning Office to swiftly predict and disseminate alerts about wave impact locations and times.
On the day of the event, tsunami offices across the Pacific region were able to issue alerts almost immediately after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake was detected—recorded as the strongest ever. In Japan, approximately 2 million individuals evacuated from coastal regions, with others doing the same in Hawaii and even in Chile, located just south of the US west coast.
“The reaction was prompt and effective,” noted David Tappin from the British Geological Survey. He added, however, that despite the earthquake’s intensity, it resulted in minimal wave activity and flooding, highlighting the need for improved predictive capabilities regarding flood events based on early detection of tremors and wave conditions.
Jayaratne also pointed out that regions prone to tsunamis, such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, lack a robust warning system and adequate public awareness of potential risks. “History shows that advanced detection technologies are only useful when accompanied by effective public communication and comprehensive evacuation strategies,” he said. “Coastal communities must conduct drills regularly to enhance public awareness and ensure warnings reach those in need through various channels.”
The early season heatwaves scorched much of the West, resulting in dangerously high temperatures and prompting extreme heat warnings lasting from Friday through Saturday. Southern Nevada saw widespread triple-digit highs, with Death Valley expected to surpass 115 degrees.
Weeks ahead of the official start of summer, we intensified the union message. The organization’s signage campaign aims to address the far-reaching effects of Doge layoffs and budget cuts on the nation’s beloved national parks. In the Southwest, this translates to zero tolerance for extreme heat, according to Shaquille.
“We had to adapt our message to connect with people directly,” he stated.
Results from the National Park Service’s budget cuts are still pending, especially with the peak summer tourist season on the horizon.
Abigail Wine, deputy director of Death Valley National Park, mentioned that park staff are committed to ensuring public safety and raising awareness about the hazards of extreme heat. She urged visitors to take necessary precautions before heading to Death Valley, such as checking weather warnings, verifying closures, and packing adequate water, sunscreen, and other essentials.
“As always, the National Park Service is dedicated to providing visitors with an incredible, safe, and unforgettable experience at Death Valley National Park and throughout the country,” Wines informed NBC News in a statement.
The broader objective of achieving a more perfect union in the Billboard campaign is to spotlight Doge’s controversial actions and the significant cuts instituted by the Trump administration to federal agencies. Shaquille noted that the organization strategically leveraged the bipartisan support enjoyed by national parks to ignite discussion.
According to a 2024 Population Survey from Pew Research Center, the National Park Service ranks as the most favored federal agency, with a favorable rating of 76% among over 9,400 Americans surveyed.
“Many of the locations where we placed our signs are in areas assumed to lean Republican, where a significant number of people likely voted for Donald Trump. Even the Doge component resonates,” Shaquille explained. “But national parks serve as a perfect example of where the limits were overstepped.”
A significant storm is forecasted to impact Alabama this week, as the National Weather Service has halted radio services that deliver vital weather updates for the area.
The Birmingham NWS office announced it will conduct “mandatory scheduled updates” to the advanced weather interactive processing system, which is essential for displaying and integrating weather and water information and disseminating critical alerts like weather and water warnings to the public.
These updates are set to take place from May 19th to May 21st. During this period, the Birmingham office will manage the NOAA weather radio transmitter. The NWS states.
Despite the software updates, the NWS assures that weather forecasts, advisories, clocks, and warnings will still be available. However, radio outages are expected to affect transmitters in northern and central Alabama, including areas like Winfield, Wannta, Birmingham, Aniston, Tuscaloosa, Demopolis, Selma, Montgomery, Auburn, and Texasville.
The NWS did not provide immediate comments, but the agency stated online that the Birmingham forecast office will remain operational while the software updates proceed. Additionally, forecasting duties will also be carried out at the backup office in Peachtree City, Georgia.
NOAA Weather Radio forms a nationwide network of stations that relay official forecasts, weather alerts, and other information from the National Weather Service. This continuous service covers warnings about various threats, including earthquakes, avalanches, oil spills, and public safety announcements.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which supervises the National Weather Service, indicated that NOAA weather radio stations nationwide will undergo necessary updates on a rolling basis for two to three days leading up to June.
“The NWS Local Office intends to inform listeners both on-air and through the website when updates are scheduled,” agency officials noted. According to the NOAA Weather Radio website.
Alabama is among several states facing the threat of severe storms this week, with thunderstorms on Tuesday predicted to produce damaging hail and tornadoes, with wind gusts reaching 60 mph across northwest and central Alabama.
This week’s radio service disruption aligns with Alabama’s severe weather forecast, but it is not the only state bracing for harsh conditions.
An estimated 31 million people are susceptible to severe storms on Monday, stretching from northern Texas to Iowa. Potential hazards include strong winds, large hail, and tornadoes from Monday afternoon into the evening.
On Tuesday, the severe storm outlook will slightly shift, affecting areas from northern Louisiana to Indiana, with risks of large hail, winds, and strong tornadoes re-emerging.
In the meantime, a heat wave has driven temperatures into the late 90s in parts of Texas and Florida, reaching triple digits earlier this week.
These alerts follow a weekend of violent storms, leading to reports of tornadoes in at least 10 states, including Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and Kentucky, with a confirmed toll of at least 28 weather-related fatalities.
This deadly storm arrives as NOAA strives to fill critical forecasting positions nationwide following significant budget cuts to the National Weather Service during the Trump administration. Critics warn that the current staffing shortages in the NWS could pose a serious public safety risk, particularly with hurricane season on the horizon, increasing wildfire threats, and persisting extreme heat this summer.
According to Tony Blair’s ThinkTank, the UK should consider relaxing copyright laws to allow artificial intelligence companies to create innovative products.
The Tony Blair Institute, with ties to the US, is set to introduce copyright measures that could lead to tariffs on UK goods. Despite geopolitical concerns, TBI states that caution is necessary.
The ThinkTank warns that requiring licenses for UK content used in AI models may drive development to regions with less stringent copyright laws. Implementing strict licensing models could also involve restricting access to models trained with such content, including US-owned AI systems.
In a newly released report, TBI expresses support for the government’s proposal to allow AI companies to train models with copyrighted materials, unless creatives choose to opt out. TBI suggests that overly strict AI regulations, as suggested by the Trump administration, could hinder economic and national security interests in the AI race.
The report emphasizes the need for collaboration between rights holders, policymakers, and AI developers to balance creativity and innovation in the AI space.
A more stringent copyright approach than that of the EU, Singapore, or Japan could drive AI developers away from the UK, according to TBI.
The report also advocates for the establishment of an AI and creative industries center to foster collaboration between technology and creative sectors.
Beeban Kidron, a vocal opponent of the government’s AI proposal, criticizes the notion that the UK should become an AI hub for Silicon Valley, calling it a bleak vision for Britain.
Kidron raises concerns about potential conflict of interest due to TBI receiving donations from US tech billionaire Larry Ellison. TBI asserts its intellectual independence over policy work despite the funding.
By 2035, the UK cybersecurity agency is urging organizations to protect their systems from quantum hackers, as the prospects for a strong computing breakthrough threaten digital encryption.
The National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) has issued new guidance recommending large entities, including energy and transport providers, to introduce “post-Quantum encryption” to prevent quantum technology from infiltrating their systems.
NCSC warned that quantum computers, although still in development, pose a serious threat to encryption as they can solve complex mathematical problems that underpin public key cryptography. Quantum Computing’s ability to compute at incredible speeds is a major concern for encryption.
“Today’s encryption methods are used to protect everything from banking communication, but rely on mathematical problems that quantum computers could solve much faster, posing a threat to current encryption methods,” the agency stated.
NCSC recommends that large organizations, critical national infrastructure operators, and businesses with bespoke IT systems implement post-Quantum encryption to combat this threat.
Organizations must identify services that require upgrades by the 2028 deadline, undergo essential overhauls by 2031, and complete migration to a new cryptographic system by 2035 according to the guidance provided.
Traditional computers use bits to represent information as 0 or 1, but quantum computers can simultaneously encode various combinations of 1 and 0, enabling them to perform much larger calculations at incredible speeds.
However, qubits, the building blocks of quantum computing, are highly sensitive to interference such as temperature changes and cosmic rays, hindering the development of large quantum computers despite significant investments. NCSC hopes its guidance will give organizations ample preparation for the future arrival of quantum computers.
“There is now a new way to encrypt public keys, making it prudent to act now rather than wait for the threat to materialize,” said Alan Woodward, a cybersecurity professor at the University of Surrey.
This year, the bird flu outbreak has led to several alarming developments, with at least 64 human infections.
Experts outlined several indicators that the spread of the virus is moving in the wrong direction.
These include the recent detection of the virus in wastewater and signs of dangerous mutations.
The lingering threat of bird flu appears to be escalating.
This year has witnessed a series of troubling events related to the virus spread. Since April, at least 64 individuals have tested positive for the virus, marking the first U.S. case in 2022 apart from one. Dairy herds in 16 states were affected this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the nation’s first severe case of avian influenza in a critically ill patient in Louisiana. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency this week due to the growing outbreak in cattle and poultry.
“The warning signs are transitioning from green to yellow,” stated Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco specializing in infectious diseases. “Numerous indications are pointing in an unfavorable direction.”
While no human-to-human transmission of avian influenza has been recorded, the CDC asserts that the immediate public health risk remains low. However, concerns are escalating based on four key indicators.
For instance, the avian influenza virus known as H5N1 is rapidly spreading among animals, including cattle, that frequently interact with humans. Moreover, detections in wastewater suggest that the virus has not only impacted livestock but also various other areas.
Additionally, there are instances of human cases where the source of infection is unidentified, along with studies on the virus’s evolution indicating that it has adapted to human receptors required for inter-human transmission. Fewer mutations have been observed.
Experts warn that when considering these indicators together, the virus is on track to potentially become the next pandemic.
“We are currently in a very precarious situation,” remarked Scott Hensley, a microbiology professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
Extensive circulation creates new pathways to humans
Since the onset of the avian influenza outbreak in 2022, the virus has spread to wild birds, domestic poultry, and wild mammals like sea lions, foxes, and black bears. Over 125 million poultry have perished from infectious diseases or been culled in the United States, as per the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Approximately 125 million poultry have died from the virus or been culled since 2022.Ulises Riuz/AFP from Getty Images File
In March, an unexpected occurrence unfolded when dairy cows fell ill, experienced reduced feed intake, and produced discolored milk.
Research indicates that the virus likely spread swiftly and effectively among cows through raw milk, as infected cows excreted significant virus amounts from their mammary glands. Raccoons and domestic cats are also susceptible if they consume raw milk.
The more animals infected, the higher the risk of transmission to humans who come in contact with them.
“The more individuals infected, the higher the likelihood of variant emergence,” mentioned Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiology professor and head of the Pandemic Center at Brown University’s School of Public Health. “I don’t want to give the virus the opportunity to trigger a pandemic.”
Prior to this year, influenza prevention efforts did not focus on cows.
“We hadn’t considered dairy cows to be influenza hosts, at least not significant ones,” mentioned Andrew Bowman, a veterinary preventive medicine professor at Ohio State University in an interview with NBC News this past summer.
However, the virus has been detected in at least 865 herds in 16 states and in raw (unpasteurized) milk sold in California. For domestic cats that consume raw milk.
A lab manager prepares milk samples for testing at Cornell University’s Animal Health Diagnostic Center on Dec. 10.Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
“Currently, raw milk and related products pose a direct risk to communities and consumers,” stated Chin-Hong. “A year ago, or even just months ago, the risk was significantly lower.”
Cases with unknown exposure sources
Most human H5N1 infections occur among poultry and dairy farm workers. However, in some mysterious instances, the source of infection remains unidentified.
One such case was reported in Hospital in Missouri in August, with subsequent recovery. Another instance involved children in California who tested positive in November.
Furthermore, Delaware health authorities reported a case of H5N1 infection this week in an individual with no known exposure to poultry or cattle. Although CDC testing did not confirm avian influenza as the virus, the case is considered “probable.”
In British Columbia, Canada, a teenager was hospitalized in early November after contracting H5N1 despite no apparent contact with farm animals or wildlife. The genetic makeup of the virus suggested similarity to strains found in waterfowl and poultry.
Such unexplained cases are causing concern among experts.
“This implies that the virus has a wider reach, and more individuals may have encountered it than previously thought,” mentioned Nuzzo.
Increased concentration of avian influenza in wastewater
Scientists are actively monitoring wastewater for virus fragments to better comprehend the geographical spread of the avian influenza epidemic.
Amy Lockwood, CDC’s director of public health partnerships and Verily, a company offering CDC wastewater testing services, stated that in recent months, “detections are increasing in frequency across a broader geographic spectrum.” A program known as Wastewater SCAN is in place.
Earlier in the month, approximately 19% of facilities monitored within the CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System across at least 10 states reported positive detections.
It is uncertain whether the detected virus fragments originated from animals or humans. For instance, some may stem from wild bird droppings entering storm drains.
“At this stage, we do not believe these signify human-to-human transmission, but there are numerous H5 viruses present,” revealed Peggy, CDC’s Director of Infectious Disease Control and Innovation.
Lockwood and Peggy mentioned that wastewater detections are concentrated near dairy processing facilities and poultry farms. However, puzzling hotspots have emerged in regions devoid of such agricultural operations in recent months.
“We are observing infections in areas where we do not automatically identify the source,” Lockwood noted, adding, “It’s a game of large numbers.”
Another mutation?
Until recently, virologists believed that multiple mutations were necessary for H5N1 to transition easily among humans.
However, a study published in Science magazine this month revealed that a cattle-circulating strain of the virus could bind to human receptors following a single mutation (Note: The study focuses solely on viral proteins, not the entire infectious virus).
Fatina Albies, a researcher in Sabeti's lab at the Broad Institute, tests milk samples for avian influenza in Boston.Boston Globe/Getty Images
“We are not implying that a pandemic is more imminent due to this finding. We simply want to highlight that the risk has elevated as a result,” explained Jim Paulson, co-author of the study and the director of molecular medicine at Scripps Research.
Separately, scientists have detected concerning elements in another virus variant found in a Canadian teen who fell severely ill in recent months. Virus samples indicated mutations that could enhance human-to-human transmissibility.
A CDC spokesperson stated that these mutations were unlikely present in the virus when the boy was infected.
“These mixed changes in the virus probably occurred following prolonged infection in the patient,” the spokesperson explained.
The strain of the virus in the first severe bird flu case in the U.S., announced on Wednesday, matched the one that infected the Canadian teenager.
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, head of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, revealed that the CDC is analyzing patient samples to identify potential concerning variants.
Meanwhile, Hensley expressed concerns that the flu season could expedite virus evolution. If an individual is co-infected with seasonal influenza and avian influenza, genetic code segments can be exchanged between the two.
“Mutations are unnecessary; it’s simply a genetic code exchange,” Hensley asserted, emphasizing the importance of farmworkers receiving flu shots to reduce such opportunities.
Upcoming trials and vaccines
Experts highlighted various measures that can be taken to track bird flu spread more effectively and prepare for a possible pandemic, some of which are already in progress.
Nuzzo emphasized that efforts need to be intensified swiftly.
“We have delayed comprehensive bulk milk testing for too long, as it is a common method for detecting outbreaks on farms,” she stated.
Simultaneously, Andrew Trister, Verily’s chief medical and scientific officer, mentioned that the company is enhancing wastewater analysis to identify concerning mutations.
New Jersey’s governor issued a drought warning Wednesday.
State officials said the state is experiencing the driest conditions in nearly 120 years, prompting an increase in wildfires.
The extreme drought is part of a widespread drought plaguing the Northeast.
New Jersey’s governor issued a drought warning Wednesday, stating that the state could impose mandatory water restrictions if conditions worsen.
A record dry spell has left New Jersey at its driest in nearly 120 years, leading to a significant rise in wildfires, as reported by state officials during a news conference.
The New Jersey State Forest Fire Department has battled 537 fires that have scorched thousands of acres since early October, according to Governor Phil Murphy. This number is 500 more fires than the same period last year.
Murphy urged residents to heed the drought warnings seriously and voluntarily decrease their water usage.
“Each of us needs to do everything we can to conserve water,” he emphasized.
Tim Eustace, executive director of the North Jersey Regional Water Commission, criticized the state for not declaring a drought emergency, which usually restricts non-essential outdoor water use.
“I’ve always been against using potable water to water lawns. It’s a terrible waste of resources,” Eustace stated.
His commission supplies water to around a third of New Jersey, with the main reservoir, Wanaque Reservoir, at 45% capacity as of Wednesday.
Monday at Wanaque Reservoir in Ringwood, New Jersey. Ted Shafley/Associated Press
The state’s other major reservoir, Manasquan Reservoir, is at 51% of its capacity, while the Passaic River, a vital drinking water source, is at about 14% of its normal capacity, sufficient to meet demand, officials assured.
New Jersey American Water, serving approximately 2.9 million people in the state, issued conservation notices to customers on Wednesday. Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water, clarified that the notice was described as “mandatory” to convey urgency but is not enforceable against violators.
“I’d like to limit movement if possible, but I don’t have the authority to issue tickets or inspect people’s lawns,” McDonough remarked. “If we can get our customers to focus on saving water, we can make a significant impact.”
Murphy mentioned that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s winter forecast predicts even drier weather ahead. Forecasting seasonal outlook Temperatures are higher than average, with precipitation chances remaining unchanged regardless of above or below average levels.
The dry conditions affecting New Jersey are part of a broader drought across the Northeast. In October, cities like Newark, New Jersey. Wilmington, Delaware. And Norfolk, Virginia, registered no rainfall at all. Southeast Regional Climate Center collects precipitation data nationwide. Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., set records for the most consecutive days without measurable precipitation.
Throughout the United States, October was declared One of the driest months on record according to NOAA. US Drought Monitor Data shows over half of the continental United States is facing some level of drought, with 56% of the Northeast impacted.
State climatologist Dave Robinson noted that New Jersey usually receives rainfall evenly over several months. However, some regions have not seen any measurable rainfall for 40 days, a first in nearly 150 years of record-keeping.
“We’ve experienced longer droughts before, but we’ve never encountered anything as exceptional as this prolonged dry period,” Robinson remarked.
He highlighted that New Jersey typically experiences heavy rainfall in October due to hurricanes, remnants of tropical cyclones, or nor’easters forming in the mid-Atlantic region.
Both weather patterns were absent this fall, with a ridge of high pressure dominating New Jersey and other Northeastern areas for weeks.
“There’s no significant storm to break through this ridge. It’s been a slow and frustrating process,” Robinson explained. “There are indications that the central part of the country, which has been relatively dry, is starting to see more moisture. …It appears to be gradually shifting eastward.”
November has marked the 12th consecutive month of above-average temperatures in New Jersey. Atmospheric warming can exacerbate droughts and heighten the chances of extreme rainfall.
“With a warmer climate system, there’s more energy that can hold moisture in the atmosphere. …If we can’t access that moisture source, a warmer climate will worsen dryness and lead to more severe droughts,” Robinson stated. “The system has become more volatile.”
Given New Jersey’s dry spell since mid-August, it would require several months of above-average, if not considerably above, rainfall to alleviate the drought, estimated Sean LaTourette, director of the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Some areas received about a quarter of an inch of rain on Sunday, but Murphy remarked that it was “far from adequate.”
Firefighters respond to a forest fire in Evesham, New Jersey, on November 6th. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (via AP)
Finally, a state of drought emergency was instated in New Jersey. The last time a drought warning was issued was in 2016, lasting over six months, LaTourette indicated.
Greg McLaughlin, New Jersey Forest and Fire Department’s Office of Forests and Natural Lands manager, mentioned that the current condition measures 748 out of 800 on a scale for forest floor dryness.
“These numbers are unprecedented in the 118-year history of the Forest Fire Service,” McLaughlin remarked. “The impact of this dryness on wildfires cannot be overstated.”
The Jennings Creek Wildfire along the New York-New Jersey border continued burning on Wednesday, with containment at 30%. Over 5,000 acres were destroyed in both states. An 18-year-old New York park worker lost his life to a falling tree while battling a fire in Orange County, New York, last Saturday.
“We sincerely appreciate his dedication and willingness to protect the residents of New York and New Jersey from these deadly fires,” Murphy expressed.
The helicopter descended into a remote part of the Amazon rainforest, where Brazil’s special forces leaped off and dove into the waters teeming with caimans.
Their mission was to uncover a massive steel structure concealed in the forests along the Boia River in Brazil. An illegal mining dredger was caught in the act of excavating the riverbed for gold.
In the crackdown, authorities found mercury bottles, gold, and a drill bit on board. They also discovered a high-tech Starlink satellite internet receiver, linking the criminal network.
Starlink antennas have become ubiquitous in the Amazon, providing internet connectivity to remote areas where it was once unimaginable.
Brazilian special forces said they had seized a number of Starlink antennas from criminals this year. Photo: Joan Raet/The Guardian
Starlink’s expansion in Brazil has transformed connectivity in remote areas, but it has raised concerns about data privacy and national security.
Brazilian authorities worry about Musk’s influence over Starlink and his erratic behavior, which could jeopardize the country’s reliance on the technology.
The global reliance on Starlink, led by Musk, has sparked debates about the potential risks of a single company dominating the satellite internet market.
A Starlink device discovered by Ibama during an illegal mining operation in a remote area of the Amazon. Photo: AP
Countries like Ukraine have shown the strategic importance of Starlink for national defense against potential threats. However, concerns about over-reliance on Musk’s company have surfaced.
Starlink’s near-monopoly in providing satellite internet services has raised questions about the geopolitical implications of Musk’s control over critical infrastructure.
As the competition in the satellite internet market intensifies, the Musk factor could sway customers’ choices, influencing the future landscape of global connectivity.
Calls for diversifying satellite internet providers and reducing dependence on a single entity like Starlink have gained traction amid growing concerns about data security and political influence.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued its first-ever “major earthquake warning” on Thursday.
The warning came after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off the coast of the southern part of the country.
This raises the risk of an even bigger earthquake in the Nankai Trough, an undersea subduction zone that scientists believe could produce a quake of up to magnitude 9.1.
After a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s southern islands on Thursday, the country’s Meteorological Agency issued an ominous warning: More powerful quakes are possible, with the risk especially high over the coming week.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issues its first-ever “major earthquake warning,” warning that the Nankai Trough is a subduction zone where a magnitude 8-9 earthquake is likely to occur, and that there is a higher-than-usual risk of strong shaking and tsunamis. It urges people in the area to prepare.
The message is not a prophecy but an outlook for increasing risk, and it shows how far seismologists have come in understanding the dynamics of subduction-zone earthquakes.
Here’s what you need to know about the situation.
Dangerous subduction zones
The Nankai Trough is an underwater subduction zone where the Eurasian plate collides with the Philippine Sea plate, causing the latter to subduct beneath the Eurasian plate and sink into the Earth’s mantle.
Faults in subduction zones build up stress, and when the locked faults slip and release that stress, so-called megaquakes occur. “Mechatronics” is the shortened form of the name. These zones have produced some of the most powerful earthquakes in Earth’s history.
The Pacific “Ring of Fire” is a collection of subduction zones. In the United States, the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the West Coast stretches from Vancouver Island in Canada to Cape Mendocino in California.
In the southwestern Japanese city of Nichinan, beaches were closed on Friday after the country’s first warning of a possible major earthquake was issued. Kyodo News via Reuters Connect
If a major earthquake were to occur off the coast of Japan, the Philippine Sea Plate would likely shake 30 to 100 feet near the country’s southeast coast, causing violent shaking.
Vertical displacement of the ocean floor could trigger a tsunami, sending waves crashing onto the coast of Japan that Japanese scientists estimate could reach heights of nearly 100 feet. Published in 2020.
History of major earthquakes
Large earthquakes occur in the Nankai Trough approximately every 100 to 150 years. In last year’s surveyJapan’s Earthquake Research Committee announced in January 2022 that there is a 70 to 80 percent chance of a major earthquake occurring in the next 30 years.
Great Nankai Trough earthquakes tend to occur in two separate events, with the second often occurring within two years of the previous one, recent examples being the “twin” earthquakes that occurred in the Nankai Trough in 1944 and 1946.
This phenomenon is due to the segmented nature of the fault, where a shift in one segment can put strain on other segments.
People stand outside after escaping a building following an earthquake in Miyazaki on Thursday. Kyodo News via Associated Press
Harold Tobin, a professor at the University of Washington who studies the Nankai Trough, said the magnitude 7.1 quake occurred in a segment that shakes more frequently than other earthquakes. The regular quakes reduce stress, so there’s less concern that the segment itself could cause a big one. What’s concerning is the quake’s proximity to a segment that’s been building up stress since the 1940s.
“This one is adjacent to the Southwest Sea region and is obviously sealed off, so that’s a reason for caution and concern,” Tobin said.
Predictions, not predictions
Scientists cannot predict earthquakes, but they are developing the ability to forecast when danger is heightened, especially in areas like Japan where tremors occur frequently and monitoring is well established.
Arizona public health officials are cautioning about the hantavirus, a disease that spreads from rodents to humans and has led to an increase in a deadly pulmonary syndrome. The Arizona Department of Health Services has reported seven confirmed cases and three deaths in the past six months. For more information, check out the recent health alerts.
Most hantavirus cases are seen in the Western and Southwestern U.S., with most states reporting one to four cases per year. Two cases have been reported in California this year. Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment or vaccine for hantavirus.
In Arizona from 2016 to 2022, there have been 11 reported cases of hantavirus, with four cases in 2016, two in 2017, four in 2020, and one in 2022.
Dr. Aaron Glatt, chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, warns that hantaviruses can cause severe and potentially fatal respiratory infections, especially transmitted by rodents like deer mice.
San Diego County and the California Department of Public Health have also noted increased hantavirus activity this year.
Changes in rodent populations affected by season and weather conditions could be contributing to the increase in hantavirus cases in Arizona. People are more likely to come into contact with rodents during the summer when they are more active.
Climate change and extreme weather events may also play a role in the spread of hantavirus.
Dr. Camilo Mora, a professor at the University of Hawaii, warns that climate change could impact the spread of disease-carrier species, leading to potential outbreaks.
Experts emphasize the need for careful handling of rodent excrement and avoidance of contact with rodents to prevent hantavirus infections.
Hantavirus Symptoms
Hantavirus particles are released into the air when disturbed, leading to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).
HPS symptoms may appear 1 to 8 weeks after contact with an infected rodent and can progress to serious lung infections if left untreated.
fever
malaise
muscle pain
nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
Approximately 38% of people with pulmonary symptoms from hantavirus may die from the disease.
How to Prevent Hantavirus
Cleaning up rodent excrement and avoiding contact with rodents are key prevention measures according to experts.
Spring cleaning activities like opening and cleaning closed spaces could increase the risk of rodent infestation and hantavirus exposure.
Proper precautions should be taken when entering closed and unoccupied spaces that may have rodents present.
Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami warning Wednesday after the eruption of Mount Luang sent volcanic ash thousands of feet into the air. Authorities ordered more than 11,000 people to leave the area.
Indonesia’s Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center said there were at least five major eruptions in the past 24 hours at a volcano on the northern side of Sulawesi island. Authorities raised the eruption alert to the highest level.
Mount Luang spews hot lava and smoke on the north side of Indonesia’s Sulawesi island on Wednesday. Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation/via AFP – Getty Images
At least 800 residents left the area early Wednesday.
Indonesia, an archipelago of 270 million people, has 120 active volcanoes. It is prone to volcanic activity because it is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a series of horseshoe-shaped seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean.
Officials urged tourists and others to stay at least 6.0 miles from the 778-meter-high Luang Volcano.
Officials fear that parts of the volcano could collapse into the ocean, causing a tsunami, like the 1871 eruption.
Taglandan Island, to the northeast of the volcano, is once again in danger, and residents have been advised to evacuate.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency announced that residents would be relocated to Manado, the nearest city on Sulawesi island, a six-hour boat ride away.
In 2018, the eruption of Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano caused parts of the mountain to fall into the sea, triggering a tsunami along the coasts of Sumatra and Java, killing 430 people.
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.
In Brisbane’s western suburbs, houses hide behind subtropical rainforest, horses graze on paddocks, and road signs warn of deer and kangaroos.
The suburb of Anstead, nestled between a bend in the river and the foothills of the D’Aguilar Mountains, may seem like an unexpected place for a Polish-born management professor who advocates for embracing the age of artificial intelligence.
However, Marek Kowalkiewicz’s home, surrounded by rubber trees, tells a different story.
“When I moved here from Silicon Valley, my kids were about 5 years old and had no idea what an iPad was,” he said from his balcony overlooking his property. “From 9pm to 5pm, where I am, there is a world that is permeated with technology, and then there is a world that is superficially less permeated with technology.”
Today is the first Monday in March, and Kowalkiewicz is just hours away from the release of his book, ‘The Algorithmic Economy: AI and the Rise of Digital Minions’. In this debut book, the Queensland University of Technology professor explores the emergence of a new era driven by non-human agents, reshaping economies and societies in ways that are not fully understood.
Mr. Kowalkiewicz admits that, as the founding director of the QUT Center for Digital Economy Research, he initially misunderstood algorithms. He thought of them as mere pieces of code following human instructions, but now he acknowledges his error.
In a world increasingly dominated by algorithms, Kowalkiewicz believes that human agency is more important than ever to ensure a positive impact on society.
As we enter this new “weird” economy characterized by algorithmic controllers, robotaxis, and AI-driven decisions, Kowalkiewicz sees opportunities for human empowerment rather than replacement.
Nearly all Tesla vehicles sold in the U.S. are being recalled due to small warning lights in the instrument panel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the recall of about 2.2 million vehicles on Friday, indicating increased scrutiny of electric vehicle manufacturers. Additionally, the agency upgraded its 2023 investigation into Tesla’s steering problems to a technical analysis, bringing it one step closer to a recall.
The update in response to the recall will enhance warnings and alerts for drivers. The document from NHTSA highlights that the font size for brake, parking, and anti-lock brake warning lights is smaller than required by federal safety standards, potentially making important safety information difficult to read and increasing the risk of a collision. The agency identified the problem during a routine safety compliance audit on January 8th. While Tesla has identified three warranty claims related to the issue, there are no reports of crashes or injuries.
The recall to fix the warning light issue will be done through a software update, affecting multiple models from 2012 to 2024. Tesla has already started releasing software updates, and owners will be notified by letter starting March 30th.
Following the announcement of the recall, Tesla’s stock fell another 2.7% in early trading on Friday, reaching its lowest level since May of last year.
In addition to the warning light issue, Tesla has faced scrutiny for its Autopilot system. Last December, NHTSA pressured Tesla to recall over 2 million vehicles for software updates and fixes related to the flawed system designed to make drivers more careful when using Autopilot. The recall was prompted by a two-year investigation into crashes involving the use of Autopilot, some of which were deadly.
Additionally, Tesla is recalling over 1.6 million electric vehicles exported to China due to problems with automatic assisted steering and door latch controls. The State Administration for Market Regulation in China announced the recall in early January, with Tesla planning to use remote upgrades to resolve the issue.
Overall, Tesla has faced challenges in addressing various safety concerns with its vehicles, including steering problems and Autopilot system issues, leading to substantial recalls and regulatory scrutiny.
TikTok’s tarot card reader looks at me through the screen and draws a card.
“If you’re watching this, this is made for you,” she said. And in a way, she’s right. But it wasn’t fate that brought me here, it was an algorithm.
spirituality and mysticism, Found a home online for a long timeBut with the rise of generative AI and personalized content recommendation systems, it’s easier than ever to project a sense of magic into technology.
As Arthur C. Clarke said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Anyone who has been offered content that feels eerily tailored to them will appreciate the mysticism of algorithms. You may have wondered about omnipotence. And while there is nothing inherently wrong with experiencing a sense of wonder in the face of technological advances, or using digital technology to enhance spiritual practices, it is important to note that there is nothing inherently wrong with experiencing a sense of wonder in the face of technological advances, or using digital technology to enhance spiritual practices, but when magic and technology collapse Doing so can be dangerous.
Many religious and spiritual spin-off chatbots have emerged leveraging OpenAI’s large-scale language model GPT-4. Get BibleGPT to write personalized Christian verses, use the Jesus AI to have “meaningful conversations with Jesus Christ,” as the website claims, or talk to him about paganism. You can chat with WitchGPT.
“Welcome to the Void” invites the latest chatbot feature from popular astrology app CoStar, encouraging users to seek generated guidance for a fee of about $1 per question. Choose from a list of suggested prompts to “Ask the Stars” if they have a secret fan. “no,”That tells me (rude).
In true CoStar fashion (the app is notoriously cheeky), it scolds you for even asking the question in the first place and suggests that you should instead find gratitude for what you already have.
These examples are a little silly at best, and probably harmless. At worst, it exposes scammers who exploit the human tendency to anthropomorphize technology or gamify social media engagement algorithms to make money by fabricating a sense of insight and enlightenment.
However, there are also people among the chavs who form genuine spiritual communities and engage in witchcraft, etc. sacred traditions online. Like many subcultures, social media can be both a blessing and a curse. Group to connectHowever, it can also lead to the reduction and impurity of cultural practices.
Feminist anthropologist Dr. Emma Quilty, whose forthcoming book on magic and technology, describes a “neoliberal spirituality” that aligns with its collective focus and hyper-individualistic ideas of self-improvement. It distinguishes between things that promote
This is uncomfortably close to commercialized self-care. severed from its black radical feminist roots and was redirected to Capitalist health choices. Kirti believes that trends promoted by social media are resulting in customs becoming disconnected from the (usually Eastern) religious traditions and cultures from which they are imported, and in some cases creating an unsustainable market for products such as crystals and quartz. It emphasizes that this could lead to increased demand. white sage smudging stick.
This is not to say that it is impossible to develop meaningful spiritual communities and practices online, or that it is impossible to have deep experiences using digital tools.
I’m not interested in denying where and how people derive meaning. However, it’s important to remember that technologies such as large-scale language models and personalized recommender systems are ultimately designed to generate value from users.
Deep experience from these tools comes from us humans, not the tools. Mr Quilty said: “Sometimes something can be positive, helpful, or empowering on an individual level, but it can still be harmful at a broader societal level due to the underlying interests and obligations of those who build and implement the technology.” There is a possibility.”
In fact, mistakenly attributing magic to technology can quickly lead us into dangerous waters. It surprises us with its glossy user interface and smooth convenience, and makes us want to peek from behind the curtain at the grumpy old man holding things together with bombastic marketing language and the usual profit-driven old data extractions. It falls directly into the hands of companies that do not.
Magical thinking about technology can be dangerous when it extends to the level of policymaking. Governments and businesses alike are often quick to turn to technology as a silver bullet to complex social problems. And when the true limits and consequences of technology are ignored, e.g. Automation could worsen social inequalityor how ChatGPT did not work without stealing copyrighted material. Automated content moderation relies on exploited invisible workers – that we adopt policies that fail to cure technology’s worst woes, relegating more complex but necessary policy interventions to the background, and all eclipsed by the magical allure of technology; It will be.
Technology is not a panacea to solve social problems and, like magic, can cause great harm when misused for personal gain.
According to a study, more than 100 deepfake video ads impersonating Rishi Sunak were paid to promote on Facebook in the last month alone. This study warns of the risks posed by AI ahead of the general election.
The ads may have reached up to 400,000 people, despite potentially violating some of Facebook’s policies. It was the first time a prime minister’s image had been systematically defaced all at once.
Over £12,929 was spent on 143 ads from 23 countries, including the US, Turkey, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
One ad includes a breaking news story in which BBC newsreader Sarah Campbell falsely claims that a scandal has broken out centering on Mr. Sunak. It also includes a fake video that appears to be reading out loud.
The article falsely claims that Elon Musk has launched an application that can “collect” stock market trades and suggests the government should test the application. It includes a fabricated clip of Mr. Sunak saying he has made the decision.
The clip leads to a fake BBC news page promoting fraudulent investments.
The scheme was carried out by Fenimore Harper, the communications company founded by Marcus Beard, a former Downing Street official who was the number 10 head of counter-conspiracy theory during the coronavirus crisis. He warned that this ad, which shows a change in the quality of fakes, shows that this year’s election is at risk of being manipulated by a large amount of high-quality falsehoods generated by AI.
“With the advent of cheap and easy-to-use voice and facial cloning, little knowledge or expertise is required to use a person’s likeness for malicious purposes.”
“Unfortunately, this problem is exacerbated by lax moderation policies for paid ads. These ads violate several of Facebook’s advertising policies. However, few of the ads we found were removed. There was very little.”
Meta, the company that owns Facebook, has been contacted for comment.
A UK government spokesperson said: “We work widely across government, through the Democracy Defense Task Force and dedicated government teams, to ensure we respond quickly to any threats to democratic processes.”
“Our online safety laws go further by creating new requirements for social platforms to quickly remove illegal misinformation and disinformation – even if it is generated by AI – as it becomes aware of it.”
A BBC spokesperson said: “In a world where disinformation is on the rise, we urge everyone to ensure they get their news from trusted sources. We are committed to tackling the growing threat of disinformation. In 2023, we launched BBC Verify to investigate, fact-check, verify video, counter disinformation, analyze data and explain complex stories using a range of forensic and open source intelligence (OSINT) tools. We invest in a highly specialized team with
“We build trust with our viewers by showing them how BBC journalists know the information they report and explaining how to spot fake and deepfake content. When we become aware of fake content, we take swift action.”
Regulators are concerned that time is running out to enact sweeping changes to ensure Britain’s electoral system is ready for advances in artificial intelligence before the next general election, expected to be held in November.
The government continues to consult with regulators, including the Electoral Commission, and under legislation from 2022 there will be new requirements for digital campaign materials to include ‘imprints’, allowing voters to control who spends on advertising. This will ensure that you know who has paid and who is participating in your ads. To influence them.
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