Climate change has likely changed the colour of the Earth's oceans significantly over the past two decades, according to a study. The research, published recently in the journal Nature, detected changes in ocean colour over the past 20 years that cannot be explained by natural, year-to-year variability alone. Watch this to know more.

Climate change is shifting the oceans' colours: Study

<p>A recent study underscored the critical role of incorporating omega-3 into our daily diets, considering the alarming reality that many individuals in the United States fail to meet the current recommended intake guidelines for these invaluable nutrients.</p>

<p>A new multi-faceted study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fish and fish oil supplements, could play a vital role in maintaining lung health. The study, funded largely by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), provides strong evidence of this association and highlights the importance of including omega-3 fatty acids in the diet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/woman-pees-on-floor-of-plane-alleges-airline-of-not-letting-her-use-washroom-618861">Woman pees on floor of plane, alleges airline did not let her use washroom</a></p>

<p>The findings were published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.</p>

<h2><strong>Lung disease prevention</strong></h2>

<p>There is growing interest in exploring whether nutritional interventions can contribute to preventing lung diseases. Previous research has indicated that omega-3 fatty acids might be beneficial in this regard due to their well-known anti-inflammatory properties.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-justice-minister-resigns-after-crashing-car-under-alcohols-influence-618882">New Zealand justice minister resigns after crashing car under alcohol's influence</a></p>

<p>To delve deeper into the potential link between omega-3 fatty acids and lung health, researchers conducted a two-part study.</p>

<h2><strong>First part of the study&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>In the first part, they carried out a longitudinal, observational study involving 15,063 healthy American adults from the NHLBI Pooled Cohorts Study. This large collection of NIH-funded studies helps researchers understand personalised risk factors for chronic lung disease.</p>

<p>The participants in this study were generally healthy when it commenced, with most showing no signs of chronic lung disease.</p>

<p>The group consisted of racially diverse adults, with an average age of 56 years, and 55 per cent&nbsp;were female. The researchers followed the participants for an average of seven years, and in some cases, up to 20 years.</p>

<p>The results of the longitudinal study revealed that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the participants' blood were linked to a reduced rate of lung function decline over time.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Israelis protest ahead of key parliament vote | Kiri Allan quits cabinet</strong></p>

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<p>Notably, the strongest associations were observed for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a specific omega-3 fatty acid found abundantly in fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines. DHA is also available as a dietary supplement.</p>

<h2><strong>Second part of the study&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>In the second part of the study, the researchers analysed genetic data from a large study involving over 500,000 European patients from the UK Biobank. By studying specific genetic markers in the blood as proxies for dietary omega-3 fatty acid levels, they sought to understand how these markers correlated with lung health.</p>

<p>The results reaffirmed the positive association, showing that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA, were linked to better lung function.</p>

<p>Omega-3 is already known for its various health benefits, especially for the cardiovascular system. They can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Additionally, these fatty acids play a crucial role in maintaining healthy brain function and supporting cognitive development.</p>

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A recent study underscored the critical role of incorporating omega-3 into our daily diets, considering the alarming reality that many individuals in the United States fail to meet the current recommended intake guidelines for these invaluable nutrients.

A recent study underscored the critical role of incorporating omega-3 into our daily diets, considering the alarming reality that many individuals in the United States fail to meet the current recommended intake guidelines for these invaluable nutrients. A new multi-faceted study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fish and fish oil supplements, could play a vital role in maintaining lung health. The study, funded largely by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), provides strong evidence of this association and highlights the importance of including omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. Also Read | Woman pees on floor of plane, alleges airline did not let her use washroom The findings were published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Lung disease prevention There is growing interest in exploring whether nutritional interventions can contribute to preventing lung diseases. Previous research has indicated that omega-3 fatty acids might be beneficial in this regard due to their well-known anti-inflammatory properties. Also Read | New Zealand justice minister resigns after crashing car under alcohol's influence To delve deeper into the potential link between omega-3 fatty acids and lung health, researchers conducted a two-part study. First part of the study In the first part, they carried out a longitudinal, observational study involving 15,063 healthy American adults from the NHLBI Pooled Cohorts Study. This large collection of NIH-funded studies helps researchers understand personalised risk factors for chronic lung disease. The participants in this study were generally healthy when it commenced, with most showing no signs of chronic lung disease. The group consisted of racially diverse adults, with an average age of 56 years, and 55 per cent were female. The researchers followed the participants for an average of seven years, and in some cases, up to 20 years. The results of the longitudinal study revealed that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the participants' blood were linked to a reduced rate of lung function decline over time. Watch | Israelis protest ahead of key parliament vote | Kiri Allan quits cabinet × Notably, the strongest associations were observed for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a specific omega-3 fatty acid found abundantly in fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines. DHA is also available as a dietary supplement. Second part of the study In the second part of the study, the researchers analysed genetic data from a large study involving over 500,000 European patients from the UK Biobank. By studying specific genetic markers in the blood as proxies for dietary omega-3 fatty acid levels, they sought to understand how these markers correlated with lung health. The results reaffirmed the positive association, showing that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA, were linked to better lung function. Omega-3 is already known for its various health benefits, especially for the cardiovascular system. They can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Additionally, these fatty acids play a crucial role in maintaining healthy brain function and supporting cognitive development. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Study links Omega-3 fatty acids to lung wellness

<p>Have you ever wondered that as the steam rises from espresso cups, so does the promise of a brighter future for the minds it may safeguard? Whether it's sipped solo or mixed into lattes, Americanos, and even martinis, espresso has long captivated coffee enthusiasts with its caffeine punch.</p>

<p>But recent research has unraveled interesting findings which will make you rethink what all that one shot of Espresso can achieve than just waking you up in the mornings. Beyond its usual job, the study reveals that this dark elixir potentially holds more benefits, including in the field of medicine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Research published in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has found that Espresso shows promise in inhibiting tau protein aggregation, a critical process linked to the onset of Alzheimer's disease.</p>

<p>The key finding was made in preliminary in vitro laboratory tests during the research.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/terrorist-threatens-to-target-indias-foreign-minister-jaishankar-home-minister-amit-shah-618078">Terrorist threatens to target India's foreign minister Jaishankar, home minister Amit Shah</a></p>

<p>About half of all Americans drink coffee daily. This recent study suggested that espresso may potentially harbour protective effects against certain neurodegenerative ailments, including Alzheimer's.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How does espresso&nbsp;tackle this unique job?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>It is important to note that the actual cause of Alzheimer's condition still remains elusive. Still, researchers believe that tau proteins play a pivotal role in the onset of Alzheimer's disease.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/manipur-women-paraded-naked-was-spontaneous-act-say-authorities-618069">Manipur women paraded naked was 'spontaneous act', say authorities</a></p>

<p>In healthy individuals, these proteins provide structural stability to the brain. While, in the context of diseases, these proteins form aggregations called fibrils. Scientists speculate that deterring this aggregation could alleviate symptoms. Therefore, in order to find out the potential impact of espresso in tau proteins agregation, Mariapina D'Onofrio and colleagues conducted this research.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What did the research entail?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>To unveil the hidden magic within espresso, the researchers used store-bought beans. They extracted precious espresso shots and then turned to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to decipher their chemical secrets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Among the compounds on which the researchers focused were caffeine and trigonelline, both alkaloids, the flavonoid genistein, and theobromine, the same compound found in chocolate, reported Science Daily citing the research.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Rainfall in India and Pakistan</strong></p>

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<p>These molecules, along with the full espresso extract, were incubated alongside a shortened version of the tau protein for a duration of about 40 hours.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What were the findings of the research?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Researchers observed remarkable findings during the study. During the experiment it was found that as the concentration of espresso extract, caffeine, or genistein rose, the fibrils shortened, refraining from forming those ominous larger sheets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the most significant discovery was made by the complete espresso extract, as it exhibited the most dramatic results.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The shortened fibrils remained non-toxic to cells and thwarted further aggregation by refusing to act as "seeds" for tau's aggression.</p>

<p>In a delightful surprise in the study, the researchers noticed that both caffeine and the espresso extract could skillfully bind to pre-formed tau fibrils. However, it is noteworthy that this journey into espresso findings has just begun. The researchers sensed they had stumbled upon an extraordinary clue but&nbsp;they also acknowledged the need for further exploration into the same.</p>

<p>The team believes that the in vitro discoveries could lay the foundation for unearthing methods to combat neurodegenerative afflictions, including Alzheimer's.</p>

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Have you ever wondered that as the steam rises from espresso cups, so does the promise of a brighter future for the minds it may safeguard? Whether it's sipped solo or mixed into lattes, Americanos, and even martinis, espresso has long captivated coffee enthusiasts with its caffeine punch.

Have you ever wondered that as the steam rises from espresso cups, so does the promise of a brighter future for the minds it may safeguard? Whether it's sipped solo or mixed into lattes, Americanos, and even martinis, espresso has long captivated coffee enthusiasts with its caffeine punch. But recent research has unraveled interesting findings which will make you rethink what all that one shot of Espresso can achieve than just waking you up in the mornings. Beyond its usual job, the study reveals that this dark elixir potentially holds more benefits, including in the field of medicine. Research published in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has found that Espresso shows promise in inhibiting tau protein aggregation, a critical process linked to the onset of Alzheimer's disease. The key finding was made in preliminary in vitro laboratory tests during the research. Also Read | Terrorist threatens to target India's foreign minister Jaishankar, home minister Amit Shah About half of all Americans drink coffee daily. This recent study suggested that espresso may potentially harbour protective effects against certain neurodegenerative ailments, including Alzheimer's. How does espresso tackle this unique job? It is important to note that the actual cause of Alzheimer's condition still remains elusive. Still, researchers believe that tau proteins play a pivotal role in the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Also Read | Manipur women paraded naked was 'spontaneous act', say authorities In healthy individuals, these proteins provide structural stability to the brain. While, in the context of diseases, these proteins form aggregations called fibrils. Scientists speculate that deterring this aggregation could alleviate symptoms. Therefore, in order to find out the potential impact of espresso in tau proteins agregation, Mariapina D'Onofrio and colleagues conducted this research. What did the research entail? To unveil the hidden magic within espresso, the researchers used store-bought beans. They extracted precious espresso shots and then turned to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to decipher their chemical secrets. Among the compounds on which the researchers focused were caffeine and trigonelline, both alkaloids, the flavonoid genistein, and theobromine, the same compound found in chocolate, reported Science Daily citing the research. Watch | Rainfall in India and Pakistan × These molecules, along with the full espresso extract, were incubated alongside a shortened version of the tau protein for a duration of about 40 hours. What were the findings of the research? Researchers observed remarkable findings during the study. During the experiment it was found that as the concentration of espresso extract, caffeine, or genistein rose, the fibrils shortened, refraining from forming those ominous larger sheets. However, the most significant discovery was made by the complete espresso extract, as it exhibited the most dramatic results. The shortened fibrils remained non-toxic to cells and thwarted further aggregation by refusing to act as "seeds" for tau's aggression. In a delightful surprise in the study, the researchers noticed that both caffeine and the espresso extract could skillfully bind to pre-formed tau fibrils. However, it is noteworthy that this journey into espresso findings has just begun. The researchers sensed they had stumbled upon an extraordinary clue but they also acknowledged the need for further exploration into the same. The team believes that the in vitro discoveries could lay the foundation for unearthing methods to combat neurodegenerative afflictions, including Alzheimer's. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Espresso shows promise in quest for fight against Alzheimer's: Study

<p>A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) has revealed the presence of various chemicals used in plastic production and other industrial applications in the blood of pregnant women.</p>

<p>The findings as per the researchers indicate increased health risks for both mothers and their babies. The study adds to a growing body of evidence showing that chemicals to which people are routinely exposed can lead to subtle yet harmful changes in health.</p>

<h2><strong>A 'wake-up'&nbsp;call</strong></h2>

<p>Researchers, as per the Guardian, emphasised that this discovery should serve as a "wake-up call" for policymakers.</p>

<p>Tracey Woodruff, professor and director of the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) programme on reproductive health and the environment, called it an "important issue".</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-finds-alarming-levels-of-forever-chemicals-in-norwegian-arctic-ice-may-affect-wildlife-561030https://www.wionews.com/science/study-finds-alarming-levels-of-forever-chemicals-in-norwegian-arctic-ice-may-affect-wildlife-561030">Study finds alarming levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in Norwegian Arctic ice, may affect wildlife</a></strong></p>

<p>"It’s urgent we do more to understand the role that chemicals have in maternal conditions and health inequities. We are being exposed to hundreds of chemicals and this research contributes to better understanding the impact they are having on our health," she said as quoted by The Guardian.</p>

<h2><strong>What the study found</strong></h2>

<p>In the government-funded study published in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal, the researchers analysed the blood samples of 302 pregnant participants and their babies' umbilical cord blood.</p>

<p>Alarmingly, they found harmful chemicals, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in at least 97 per cent of the blood samples.</p>

<p>PFAS, such as PFOS, have long been associated with serious health problems, including birth defects, despite the US Environmental Protection Agency's agreement with PFOS maker 3M to phase out its use over 23 years ago.</p>

<p>The study also identified other chemicals, such as abnormal fatty acids and substances used in the production of pesticides, medications, and plastics, in the majority of the pregnant women's blood samples.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/high-levels-of-forever-chemicals-found-across-uk-europe-report-565239https://www.wionews.com/world/high-levels-of-forever-chemicals-found-across-uk-europe-report-565239">High levels of ‘forever chemicals’ found at 17,000 sites across UK and Europe: Report</a></strong></p>

<p>As per researchers, these chemicals have been linked to an increased risk of gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and pregnancy-related hypertension. Of particular concern were the long-chain fatty acids discovered, which are typically found in individuals with Reye's syndrome, a severe condition affecting the liver and brain.</p>

<p>It must be noted that the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries, with rates doubling between 1999 and 2019, particularly affecting Black mothers.</p>

<h2><strong>Forever chemicals</strong></h2>

<p>PFAS chemicals, often referred to as "forever chemicals," do not naturally break down and persist in the environment and living organisms. They have been linked to health issues such as cancer, decreased fertility, and kidney disease.</p>

<p>The recent study coincides with recent testing commissioned by the Environmental Working Group, which found elevated levels of PFAS in the drinking water of several US cities. As per a report released by the US Geological Survey earlier this month, 45 per cent of US drinking water is contaminated with PFAS.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) has revealed the presence of various chemicals used in plastic production and other industrial applications in the blood of pregnant women.

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) has revealed the presence of various chemicals used in plastic production and other industrial applications in the blood of pregnant women. The findings as per the researchers indicate increased health risks for both mothers and their babies. The study adds to a growing body of evidence showing that chemicals to which people are routinely exposed can lead to subtle yet harmful changes in health. A 'wake-up' call Researchers, as per the Guardian, emphasised that this discovery should serve as a "wake-up call" for policymakers. Tracey Woodruff, professor and director of the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) programme on reproductive health and the environment, called it an "important issue". Also read | Study finds alarming levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in Norwegian Arctic ice, may affect wildlife "It’s urgent we do more to understand the role that chemicals have in maternal conditions and health inequities. We are being exposed to hundreds of chemicals and this research contributes to better understanding the impact they are having on our health," she said as quoted by The Guardian. What the study found In the government-funded study published in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal, the researchers analysed the blood samples of 302 pregnant participants and their babies' umbilical cord blood. Alarmingly, they found harmful chemicals, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in at least 97 per cent of the blood samples. PFAS, such as PFOS, have long been associated with serious health problems, including birth defects, despite the US Environmental Protection Agency's agreement with PFOS maker 3M to phase out its use over 23 years ago. The study also identified other chemicals, such as abnormal fatty acids and substances used in the production of pesticides, medications, and plastics, in the majority of the pregnant women's blood samples. Also read | High levels of ‘forever chemicals’ found at 17,000 sites across UK and Europe: Report As per researchers, these chemicals have been linked to an increased risk of gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and pregnancy-related hypertension. Of particular concern were the long-chain fatty acids discovered, which are typically found in individuals with Reye's syndrome, a severe condition affecting the liver and brain. It must be noted that the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries, with rates doubling between 1999 and 2019, particularly affecting Black mothers. Forever chemicals PFAS chemicals, often referred to as "forever chemicals," do not naturally break down and persist in the environment and living organisms. They have been linked to health issues such as cancer, decreased fertility, and kidney disease. The recent study coincides with recent testing commissioned by the Environmental Working Group, which found elevated levels of PFAS in the drinking water of several US cities. As per a report released by the US Geological Survey earlier this month, 45 per cent of US drinking water is contaminated with PFAS. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Alarm raised as study finds forever chemicals in pregnant women's blood

<p>Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne announced that he will submit his resignation after concerns over the integrity of his research were raised. Tessier-Lavigne announced that he will be stepping down.</p>

<p>In a letter to staff and students on Wednesday (July 19), Tessier-Lavigne stated that he is stepping down because he thinks there will be a continued debate around his ability to head the university.</p>

<p>“I’ve never submitted a scientific paper without firmly believing that the data were correct and accurately presented,” the president said.</p>

<p>However, he accepted that he should have been more diligent in seeking corrections related to his work.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/research-discovers-repair-process-that-fixes-damaged-hearing-cells-616646">Research discovers repair process that fixes damaged hearing cells</a></p>

<p>The announcement was made after the board of trustees of the historic university, which is often called the “Ivy of the West” and is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, started reviewing allegations of ethical misconduct and fraud around papers which were authored or co-authored by Tessier-Lavigne last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the review, 12 papers that Tessier-Lavigne had worked on were assessed, which included five in which he was the principal author.</p>

<p>The allegations of misconduct in the work were first aired on PubPeer, which is a website where scientific community's members discuss their research paper, stated the final report of the panel.</p>

<h2><strong>Serious allegations against president cleared&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The most serious allegation against the president, which was the fraud investigation carried out on a 2009 paper on a model of neurodegeneration published in the scientific journal Nature, was cleared by the panel. Neurodegeneration models can have great potential for research and therapy of Alzheimer’s disease.</p>

<p>The panel ruled that they did not discover any fraud in the research papers. However, they concluded that the paper had multiple problems, which included a lack of rigour in its development. They added that the research that went into the paper and its presentation had “various errors and shortcomings”. No evidence of &nbsp;Tessier-Lavigne being aware of the lack of rigour was found by the panel.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: China builds a new research port in the South China Sea</strong></p>

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<p>“People tend to think of scientists as these individuals that they’ve heard of like Einstein and Marie Curie,” stated H Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the Science family of journals. “The truth is that researchers run laboratories filled with people, and everything that happens in that laboratory is a product of many individuals there," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even though Tessier-Lavigne was cleared of research misconduct by the report, Thorp said that the boss is ultimately held responsible for what takes place in the lab and shouldn't get distracted by doing other jobs. The panel discovered that “the unusual frequency of manipulation of research data and/or substandard scientific practices” suggested a requirement for improved “oversight and management”.&nbsp;</p>

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Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne announced that he will submit his resignation after concerns over the integrity of his research were raised. Tessier-Lavigne announced that he will be stepping down.

Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne announced that he will submit his resignation after concerns over the integrity of his research were raised. Tessier-Lavigne announced that he will be stepping down. In a letter to staff and students on Wednesday (July 19), Tessier-Lavigne stated that he is stepping down because he thinks there will be a continued debate around his ability to head the university. “I’ve never submitted a scientific paper without firmly believing that the data were correct and accurately presented,” the president said. However, he accepted that he should have been more diligent in seeking corrections related to his work. ALSO READ | Research discovers repair process that fixes damaged hearing cells The announcement was made after the board of trustees of the historic university, which is often called the “Ivy of the West” and is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, started reviewing allegations of ethical misconduct and fraud around papers which were authored or co-authored by Tessier-Lavigne last year. In the review, 12 papers that Tessier-Lavigne had worked on were assessed, which included five in which he was the principal author. The allegations of misconduct in the work were first aired on PubPeer, which is a website where scientific community's members discuss their research paper, stated the final report of the panel. Serious allegations against president cleared The most serious allegation against the president, which was the fraud investigation carried out on a 2009 paper on a model of neurodegeneration published in the scientific journal Nature, was cleared by the panel. Neurodegeneration models can have great potential for research and therapy of Alzheimer’s disease. The panel ruled that they did not discover any fraud in the research papers. However, they concluded that the paper had multiple problems, which included a lack of rigour in its development. They added that the research that went into the paper and its presentation had “various errors and shortcomings”. No evidence of Tessier-Lavigne being aware of the lack of rigour was found by the panel. WATCH | Gravitas: China builds a new research port in the South China Sea “People tend to think of scientists as these individuals that they’ve heard of like Einstein and Marie Curie,” stated H Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the Science family of journals. “The truth is that researchers run laboratories filled with people, and everything that happens in that laboratory is a product of many individuals there," he added. Even though Tessier-Lavigne was cleared of research misconduct by the report, Thorp said that the boss is ultimately held responsible for what takes place in the lab and shouldn't get distracted by doing other jobs. The panel discovered that “the unusual frequency of manipulation of research data and/or substandard scientific practices” suggested a requirement for improved “oversight and management”. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Stanford University president to resign after questions raised over integrity of his research

<p>Using CRISPR gene-editing tools to grow engineered trees, researchers have made a breakthrough in reducing the environmental impact of paper production.</p>

<p>They’ve successfully grown poplar trees with significantly less lignin, a woody material present in plants.</p>

<p>The process separation of this lignin during the papermaking process is what typically generates millions of tonnes of chemical waste and substantial greenhouse gas emissions each year.</p>

<h2><strong>What will these genetically-engineered trees do?</strong></h2>

<p>As per a study published in Science, milling these engineered trees could lead to a substantial reduction in papermaking pollution while also saving the industry billions of dollars.</p>

<p>Traditionally, paper production involves cutting wood into small chips, with poplars being a common source due to their fast growth.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/google-ai-health-chatbot-cracks-us-medical-exam-says-study-615168">Google's AI health chatbot Med-PaLM cracks US medical licensing exam, says study</a></strong></p>

<p>Water and chemicals are added to extract cellulose fibres from the tough lignin structures, which is then used to form a wet pulp that is pressed and dried into paper.</p>

<p>Previous efforts to reduce lignin content in trees have yielded modest results. However, the researchers behind this study took a different approach by targeting the genes responsible for regulating overall lignin production.</p>

<p>Using CRISPR gene editing, the team led by Jack Wang and Rodolphe Barrangou, biotechnologists at North Carolina State University built a computer model, and evaluated approximately 70,000 gene-editing combinations in poplar trees to identify changes that would enhance cellulose production and reduce lignin content.</p>

<p>They successfully identified 347 combinations that showed potential improvements for papermaking.</p>

<h2><strong>How will these benefit the paper industry?</strong></h2>

<p>After implementing the gene changes associated with the most promising combinations, the engineered trees demonstrated a 49.1 per cent reduction in lignin content and a 228 per cent increase in cellulose-to-lignin ratio.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-rover-discovers-new-evidence-of-organic-molecules-on-mars-615591">NASA rover discovers new evidence of organic molecules on Mars</a></strong></p>

<p>Implementing these varieties in a typical paper mill could increase paper output by 40 per cent, and also reduce greenhouse emissions by 20 per cent. This can result in approximately $1 billion in additional profits.</p>

<h2><strong>The way forward</strong></h2>

<p>While these findings offer promising solutions for the paper industry, as per Barrangou further steps are necessary. He says that field trials are required to ensure that the engineered trees can grow to maturity and withstand real-world conditions, including wind storms and insect protection.</p>

<p>Regulatory approval is also needed, although the fact that the engineered trees do not contain transgenes — genes from other organisms — may facilitate the acceptance process.</p>

<p>Wang and Barrangou, who re behind a spin-off company called TreeCo, now plan to conduct field trials for CRISPR-edited poplars and are exploring similar gene edits in eucalyptus and pine trees, which are also widely used in paper production.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Using CRISPR gene-editing tools to grow engineered trees, researchers have made a breakthrough in reducing the environmental impact of paper production. They’ve successfully grown poplar trees with significantly less lignin, a woody material present in plants.

Using CRISPR gene-editing tools to grow engineered trees, researchers have made a breakthrough in reducing the environmental impact of paper production. They’ve successfully grown poplar trees with significantly less lignin, a woody material present in plants. The process separation of this lignin during the papermaking process is what typically generates millions of tonnes of chemical waste and substantial greenhouse gas emissions each year. What will these genetically-engineered trees do? As per a study published in Science, milling these engineered trees could lead to a substantial reduction in papermaking pollution while also saving the industry billions of dollars. Traditionally, paper production involves cutting wood into small chips, with poplars being a common source due to their fast growth. Also read | Google's AI health chatbot Med-PaLM cracks US medical licensing exam, says study Water and chemicals are added to extract cellulose fibres from the tough lignin structures, which is then used to form a wet pulp that is pressed and dried into paper. Previous efforts to reduce lignin content in trees have yielded modest results. However, the researchers behind this study took a different approach by targeting the genes responsible for regulating overall lignin production. Using CRISPR gene editing, the team led by Jack Wang and Rodolphe Barrangou, biotechnologists at North Carolina State University built a computer model, and evaluated approximately 70,000 gene-editing combinations in poplar trees to identify changes that would enhance cellulose production and reduce lignin content. They successfully identified 347 combinations that showed potential improvements for papermaking. How will these benefit the paper industry? After implementing the gene changes associated with the most promising combinations, the engineered trees demonstrated a 49.1 per cent reduction in lignin content and a 228 per cent increase in cellulose-to-lignin ratio. Also read | NASA rover discovers new evidence of organic molecules on Mars Implementing these varieties in a typical paper mill could increase paper output by 40 per cent, and also reduce greenhouse emissions by 20 per cent. This can result in approximately $1 billion in additional profits. The way forward While these findings offer promising solutions for the paper industry, as per Barrangou further steps are necessary. He says that field trials are required to ensure that the engineered trees can grow to maturity and withstand real-world conditions, including wind storms and insect protection. Regulatory approval is also needed, although the fact that the engineered trees do not contain transgenes — genes from other organisms — may facilitate the acceptance process. Wang and Barrangou, who re behind a spin-off company called TreeCo, now plan to conduct field trials for CRISPR-edited poplars and are exploring similar gene edits in eucalyptus and pine trees, which are also widely used in paper production. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

CRISPR gene editing offers promising solution to reduce environmental impact of paper industry: Report

<p>Scientists have proposed a reset of the lunar clock after re-evaluating impact craters on the moon's surface, indicating that certain features, such as the iconic "Man in the Moon" formation, could be 200 million years older than previously believed.</p>

<h2><strong>How would this clock reset impact everything we know about the moon?</strong></h2>

<p>As per a report in Space.com, the new dating system has implications on humanity’s understanding of the evolution of the lunar surface. It will also shed light on the early history of the solar system, that is characterised by heavenly bodies like the moon and Earth being subjected to intense bombardment by space rocks.</p>

<p>The research involved a reassessment of two methods of dating the lunar surface: counting the number of impact craters caused by space rocks and analysing moon rocks collected by the Apollo missions.</p>

<p>While traditionally, these methods have yielded different results, particularly for the ages of heavily cratered and mountainous lunar highlands, to “reconcile” the differences, the researchers correlated individually dated Apollo samples with the number of craters in their respective areas.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/crispr-gene-editing-offers-promising-solution-to-reduce-environmental-impact-of-paper-industry-report-615749">CRISPR gene editing offers promising solution to reduce environmental impact of paper industry: Report</a></strong></p>

<p>Professor Stephanie Werner of the University of Oslo explained their methodology during a talk at the Goldschmidt Geochemistry Conference in Lyon.</p>

<p>As per Werney, "It was decided that we had to reconcile these differences, and that meant correlating individually dated Apollo samples to the number of craters in the sample site surrounding area — in effect, resetting the crater clock."</p>

<p>"We also correlated them against spectroscopy data from various moon missions, especially the Indian Chandrayaan-1, to be sure which Apollo sample belongs to the surface in which we counted craters," she added.</p>

<p>The study was presented at the Goldschmidt Conference in Lyon, France, and has been accepted for publication in the Planetary Science Journal.</p>

<h2><strong>What will be affected by this clock reset?</strong></h2>

<p>As per the team, this reset will not change the estimate of the moon’s age — around 4.53 billion years. However, it does change the age of all the areas of the lunar surface, and not in a uniform manner. This will mean that the older regions experience the most significant shifts in age.</p>

<p>For instance, the Imbrium Basin, created by a massive asteroid impact, was previously estimated to be around 3.9 billion years old. The revised dating places the impact and the basin's formation approximately 4.1 billion years ago.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chandrayaan-3-launch-isro-chief-says-if-all-goes-well-lunar-landing-on-august-23-615106">Chandrayaan-3 launch: ISRO chief says if all goes well, lunar landing on August 23</a></strong></p>

<p>"This is an important difference. It allows us to push back in time an intense period of bombardment from space, which we now know took place before extensive volcanic activity that formed the 'Man in the moon' patterns — the mare volcanic plains, including Mare Imbrium," said Werner.</p>

<p>"As this happened on the moon, the Earth was almost certain to have also suffered this earlier bombardment too."</p>

<p>However, unlike Moon, the Earth, has a masked impact record due to geological processes like tectonic plate movement.</p>

<p>Thankfully, the moon's geologically inactive nature has preserved the record of impacts on its surface, which makes it an invaluable source for studying the effects of space rock bombardment minus the influence of geological churning.</p>

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Scientists have proposed a reset of the lunar clock after re-evaluating impact craters on the moon's surface, indicating that certain features, such as the iconic "Man in the Moon" formation, could be 200 million years older than previously believed.

Scientists have proposed a reset of the lunar clock after re-evaluating impact craters on the moon's surface, indicating that certain features, such as the iconic "Man in the Moon" formation, could be 200 million years older than previously believed. How would this clock reset impact everything we know about the moon? As per a report in Space.com, the new dating system has implications on humanity’s understanding of the evolution of the lunar surface. It will also shed light on the early history of the solar system, that is characterised by heavenly bodies like the moon and Earth being subjected to intense bombardment by space rocks. The research involved a reassessment of two methods of dating the lunar surface: counting the number of impact craters caused by space rocks and analysing moon rocks collected by the Apollo missions. While traditionally, these methods have yielded different results, particularly for the ages of heavily cratered and mountainous lunar highlands, to “reconcile” the differences, the researchers correlated individually dated Apollo samples with the number of craters in their respective areas. Also read | CRISPR gene editing offers promising solution to reduce environmental impact of paper industry: Report Professor Stephanie Werner of the University of Oslo explained their methodology during a talk at the Goldschmidt Geochemistry Conference in Lyon. As per Werney, "It was decided that we had to reconcile these differences, and that meant correlating individually dated Apollo samples to the number of craters in the sample site surrounding area — in effect, resetting the crater clock." "We also correlated them against spectroscopy data from various moon missions, especially the Indian Chandrayaan-1, to be sure which Apollo sample belongs to the surface in which we counted craters," she added. The study was presented at the Goldschmidt Conference in Lyon, France, and has been accepted for publication in the Planetary Science Journal. What will be affected by this clock reset? As per the team, this reset will not change the estimate of the moon’s age — around 4.53 billion years. However, it does change the age of all the areas of the lunar surface, and not in a uniform manner. This will mean that the older regions experience the most significant shifts in age. For instance, the Imbrium Basin, created by a massive asteroid impact, was previously estimated to be around 3.9 billion years old. The revised dating places the impact and the basin's formation approximately 4.1 billion years ago. Also read | Chandrayaan-3 launch: ISRO chief says if all goes well, lunar landing on August 23 "This is an important difference. It allows us to push back in time an intense period of bombardment from space, which we now know took place before extensive volcanic activity that formed the 'Man in the moon' patterns — the mare volcanic plains, including Mare Imbrium," said Werner. "As this happened on the moon, the Earth was almost certain to have also suffered this earlier bombardment too." However, unlike Moon, the Earth, has a masked impact record due to geological processes like tectonic plate movement. Thankfully, the moon's geologically inactive nature has preserved the record of impacts on its surface, which makes it an invaluable source for studying the effects of space rock bombardment minus the influence of geological churning. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Lunar clock reset: 'Man in the Moon' could be 200 million years older than previously thought

<p>Enter the fascinating world of bees, where these tiny but mighty beings outshine humans when it comes to making swift and superior choices regarding things that matter to them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Surprisingly, honey bees, with brains smaller than sesame seeds, are capable of making faster and more accurate decisions than humans, a recent research suggested. This study was published in the journal eLife and sheds light on the decision-making process of honey bees, offering valuable insights into insect brains, the evolution of our own brains, and the design of more efficient robots. Honey bees have evolved over millions of years to effectively assess the effort, risk, and reward associated with finding food for their hive.</p>

<p>Led by Professor Andrew Barron from Macquarie University and Dr. HaDi MaBouDi, Neville Dearden, and Professor James Marshall from the University of Sheffield, the study provides valuable information about the cognitive processes involved in decision-making.</p>

<h2><strong>The efficiency of Bee decision-making</strong></h2>

<p>Professor Barron laid stress on the significance of decision-making in cognition, stating that animals constantly face decisions in their lives. "Decision-making is at the core of cognition," he said, adding, "It's the result of an evaluation of possible outcomes, and animal lives are full of decisions. A honey bee has a brain smaller than a sesame seed. And yet she can make decisions faster and more accurately than we can."</p>

<p>He further added that if a robot were to perform the tasks of a honey bee, it would require the computational power of a supercomputer.</p>

<p>Honey bees face the challenge of working quickly and efficiently, collecting nectar and defending against predators while making decisions about which flowers are likely to contain food.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/investigation-into-greek-shipwreck-suggests-coastguard-responsible-for-sinking-report-613990">Investigation into Greek shipwreck suggests coastguard responsible for sinking: Report</a></p>

<p>During the flight, bees are primarily at risk of aerial attacks, but once they land to feed, they become vulnerable to predators, including those that camouflage themselves as flowers.</p>

<h2><strong>Experimental setup</strong></h2>

<p>In the study, 20 bees were trained to recognise five different coloured flower disks. Blue flowers always contained sugar syrup, green flowers contained quinine with a bitter taste for bees, and other colours sometimes had glucose.</p>

<p><a href="Also Read | 'Turkey will back Sweden's NATO bid if EU embraces Ankara', says Erdogan">Also Read | 'Turkey will back Sweden's NATO bid if EU embraces Ankara', says Erdogan</a></p>

<p>The researchers then observed the bees in a garden where the flowers only had distilled water. Over 40 hours of video footage was analysed to track the bees' flight paths and measure the time it took for them to make decisions.</p>

<h2><strong>Decoding Bee decision-making</strong></h2>

<p>Dr. MaBouDi explains that the bees displayed swift decision-making when they were confident that a flower had food, taking an average of 0.6 seconds to land on such flowers.</p>

<p>Similarly, if they were confident that a flower didn't have food, they made a quick decision. However, if they were uncertain, they took longer (an average of 1.4 seconds), with the decision time reflecting the likelihood of a flower containing food.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | 'Safeguarding reefs': Theme of Florida Music Festival</strong></p>

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<p>The researchers developed a computer model based on the principles observed in the bees' decision-making process. Remarkably, the structure of the computer model closely resembled the physical layout of a bee brain. Professor Marshall highlights how complex autonomous decision-making can be achieved using minimal neural circuitry.&nbsp;</p>

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Enter the fascinating world of bees, where these tiny but mighty beings outshine humans when it comes to making swift and superior choices regarding things that matter to them.

Enter the fascinating world of bees, where these tiny but mighty beings outshine humans when it comes to making swift and superior choices regarding things that matter to them. Surprisingly, honey bees, with brains smaller than sesame seeds, are capable of making faster and more accurate decisions than humans, a recent research suggested. This study was published in the journal eLife and sheds light on the decision-making process of honey bees, offering valuable insights into insect brains, the evolution of our own brains, and the design of more efficient robots. Honey bees have evolved over millions of years to effectively assess the effort, risk, and reward associated with finding food for their hive. Led by Professor Andrew Barron from Macquarie University and Dr. HaDi MaBouDi, Neville Dearden, and Professor James Marshall from the University of Sheffield, the study provides valuable information about the cognitive processes involved in decision-making. The efficiency of Bee decision-making Professor Barron laid stress on the significance of decision-making in cognition, stating that animals constantly face decisions in their lives. "Decision-making is at the core of cognition," he said, adding, "It's the result of an evaluation of possible outcomes, and animal lives are full of decisions. A honey bee has a brain smaller than a sesame seed. And yet she can make decisions faster and more accurately than we can." He further added that if a robot were to perform the tasks of a honey bee, it would require the computational power of a supercomputer. Honey bees face the challenge of working quickly and efficiently, collecting nectar and defending against predators while making decisions about which flowers are likely to contain food. Also Read | Investigation into Greek shipwreck suggests coastguard responsible for sinking: Report During the flight, bees are primarily at risk of aerial attacks, but once they land to feed, they become vulnerable to predators, including those that camouflage themselves as flowers. Experimental setup In the study, 20 bees were trained to recognise five different coloured flower disks. Blue flowers always contained sugar syrup, green flowers contained quinine with a bitter taste for bees, and other colours sometimes had glucose. Also Read | 'Turkey will back Sweden's NATO bid if EU embraces Ankara', says Erdogan The researchers then observed the bees in a garden where the flowers only had distilled water. Over 40 hours of video footage was analysed to track the bees' flight paths and measure the time it took for them to make decisions. Decoding Bee decision-making Dr. MaBouDi explains that the bees displayed swift decision-making when they were confident that a flower had food, taking an average of 0.6 seconds to land on such flowers. Similarly, if they were confident that a flower didn't have food, they made a quick decision. However, if they were uncertain, they took longer (an average of 1.4 seconds), with the decision time reflecting the likelihood of a flower containing food. Watch | 'Safeguarding reefs': Theme of Florida Music Festival × The researchers developed a computer model based on the principles observed in the bees' decision-making process. Remarkably, the structure of the computer model closely resembled the physical layout of a bee brain. Professor Marshall highlights how complex autonomous decision-making can be achieved using minimal neural circuitry. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Bees outgun humans in making swift, better decisions for things that matter to them: Study

<p>Scientists uncovered the remains of the smallest extinct penguin species ever found which are said to have waddled their way around New Zealand around three million years ago. The study related to the findings was published, last month, in the Journal of Paleontology.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What did the scientists find?</strong></h2>

<p>The two fossils were discovered by Karl Raubenheimer in the three-million-year-old sediments in the southern Taranaki region of New Zealand’s North Island. According to the study, the fossilised skulls are said to belong to the newly discovered species, named Wilson’s little penguin <em>(Eudyptula wilsonae)</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fossils were analysed by a team led by the Massey University of New Zealand and found that the nearly complete skulls belonged to an adult and a fledged juvenile who determined that they appear to be a part of the little penguin <em>(Eudyptula minor)</em> lineage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The skulls are remarkably similar in both size and shape to little penguins which exist today and are the smallest living species of penguin. The researchers were unsure about how small the extinct penguins were since they did not find any other bones, however, the living penguins typically grow around 35 centimetres and weigh 0.9 kilograms.</p>

<h2><strong>What did the researchers say about the discovery?</strong></h2>

<p>In a statement, the researchers said that the findings help confirm the Zealandian origin of the little penguins as well as their presence during the Neogene period. Currently, little penguins and their four subspecies live across New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania but very little was known about their origins.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists also wrote about how the recent findings have helped fill the gaps in this ecosystem’s history as well as provide insights into other extinct and living species from the country. “These newly discovered fossils show little penguins like kororā have been part of coastal ecosystems of Zealandia for at least three million years,” said Dr Daniel Thomas, a zoologist at Massey University in New Zealand, in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, “This is important when thinking about the origins of these penguins, the evolution of the seabird diversity of Aotearoa and the dynamic environment in which they live.” This comes as in June 2022, over 500 little penguins mysteriously washed up dead on beaches in New Zealand, reported Live Science.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the researchers were unsure of what killed them, it was speculated that climate change may have played a role. It was also found that most of the dead seabirds were significantly underweight which had been attributed to the hotter ocean surface temperatures, caused by climate change, that might have driven the little penguins’ prey further away from their reach.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The rising temperature means more species will find Aotearoa habitable, so it’s important to learn as much as we can about the species that lived here during the last warm-world phase,” said Dr Thomas.&nbsp;<br />
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Scientists uncovered the remains of the smallest extinct penguin species ever found which are said to have waddled their way around New Zealand around three million years ago.

Scientists uncovered the remains of the smallest extinct penguin species ever found which are said to have waddled their way around New Zealand around three million years ago. The study related to the findings was published, last month, in the Journal of Paleontology. What did the scientists find? The two fossils were discovered by Karl Raubenheimer in the three-million-year-old sediments in the southern Taranaki region of New Zealand’s North Island. According to the study, the fossilised skulls are said to belong to the newly discovered species, named Wilson’s little penguin (Eudyptula wilsonae). The fossils were analysed by a team led by the Massey University of New Zealand and found that the nearly complete skulls belonged to an adult and a fledged juvenile who determined that they appear to be a part of the little penguin (Eudyptula minor) lineage. The skulls are remarkably similar in both size and shape to little penguins which exist today and are the smallest living species of penguin. The researchers were unsure about how small the extinct penguins were since they did not find any other bones, however, the living penguins typically grow around 35 centimetres and weigh 0.9 kilograms. What did the researchers say about the discovery? In a statement, the researchers said that the findings help confirm the Zealandian origin of the little penguins as well as their presence during the Neogene period. Currently, little penguins and their four subspecies live across New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania but very little was known about their origins. Scientists also wrote about how the recent findings have helped fill the gaps in this ecosystem’s history as well as provide insights into other extinct and living species from the country. “These newly discovered fossils show little penguins like kororā have been part of coastal ecosystems of Zealandia for at least three million years,” said Dr Daniel Thomas, a zoologist at Massey University in New Zealand, in a statement. He added, “This is important when thinking about the origins of these penguins, the evolution of the seabird diversity of Aotearoa and the dynamic environment in which they live.” This comes as in June 2022, over 500 little penguins mysteriously washed up dead on beaches in New Zealand, reported Live Science. While the researchers were unsure of what killed them, it was speculated that climate change may have played a role. It was also found that most of the dead seabirds were significantly underweight which had been attributed to the hotter ocean surface temperatures, caused by climate change, that might have driven the little penguins’ prey further away from their reach. “The rising temperature means more species will find Aotearoa habitable, so it’s important to learn as much as we can about the species that lived here during the last warm-world phase,” said Dr Thomas. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Scientists discover remains of smallest of its kind, extinct penguin species

<p>An ancient shrimplike creature, which has an armoured mouth and appendages growing out of its head, was believed to be the quintessential apex predator of its time by scientists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The sea creature gained a fearsome reputation after palaeontologists believed that it was responsible for crushing and scarring the fossilized skeletons of trilobites, which were early hard-shelled invertebrates that had skittered on the seafloor before they disappeared in a mass extinction, giving way to the dinosaurs.</p>

<p>The 2-foot-long (0.6-meter-long) Anomalocaris canadensis was among the largest marine animals, which survived 508 million years ago. During the Cambrian period, the underwater hunter was believed to have prowled the seas.</p>

<p>This period was considered as a critical juncture in the history of the planet when there was an explosion in the diversity of living creatures and when many major animal groups alive emerged.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/discovery-of-fossils-show-humongous-sea-creature-decapitated-by-dinosaur-predator-606851">Discovery of fossils shows humongous sea creature decapitated by dinosaur predator</a></p>

<p>“That didn’t sit right with me, because trilobites have a very strong exoskeleton, which they essentially make out of rock, while this animal would have mostly been soft and squishy,” stated lead author Russell Bicknell, a postdoctoral researcher in the American Museum of Natural History’s division of palaeontology, who carried out the work while working at the University of New England in Australia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bicknell and his collaborators in the United Kingdom, Germany, China and Switzerland have created the creature's new three-dimensional reconstruction, using computer modelling to get a better understanding of its biomechanics.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The model was made on the basis of a well-preserved but flattened fossil discovered in the Burgess Shale formation in the Canadian Rockies.</p>

<h2><strong>Using long appendages to hunt&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier, research had stated that the mouth parts of Anomalocaris were not able to process hard food. On the basis of this research, Bicknell and his colleagues focused on whether it can use its long and spiny appendages to chew up trilobite prey.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the use of present-day whip spiders and whip scorpions as analogues, because they also have similar appendages which allow them to grasp prey, the team carrying out the study was able to show that the segmented appendages of the predator were able to grab prey and had the capacity to stretch out and flex.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Aliens: Are we looking in the wrong place?</strong></p>

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<p>However, the analysis of the team suggested that the marine animal was more of a weakling than it was assumed initially and was “incapable” of crushing hard-shelled prey with the two structures, as per the study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B on Tuesday.</p>

<p>“Previous conceptions were that these animals would have seen the Burgess Shale fauna as a smorgasbord, going after anything they wanted to, but we’re finding that the dynamics of the Cambrian food webs were likely much more complex than we once thought,” said Bicknell, in a statement.</p>

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An ancient shrimplike creature, which has an armoured mouth and appendages growing out of its head, was believed to be the quintessential apex predator of its time by scientists.

An ancient shrimplike creature, which has an armoured mouth and appendages growing out of its head, was believed to be the quintessential apex predator of its time by scientists. The sea creature gained a fearsome reputation after palaeontologists believed that it was responsible for crushing and scarring the fossilized skeletons of trilobites, which were early hard-shelled invertebrates that had skittered on the seafloor before they disappeared in a mass extinction, giving way to the dinosaurs. The 2-foot-long (0.6-meter-long) Anomalocaris canadensis was among the largest marine animals, which survived 508 million years ago. During the Cambrian period, the underwater hunter was believed to have prowled the seas. This period was considered as a critical juncture in the history of the planet when there was an explosion in the diversity of living creatures and when many major animal groups alive emerged. ALSO READ | Discovery of fossils shows humongous sea creature decapitated by dinosaur predator “That didn’t sit right with me, because trilobites have a very strong exoskeleton, which they essentially make out of rock, while this animal would have mostly been soft and squishy,” stated lead author Russell Bicknell, a postdoctoral researcher in the American Museum of Natural History’s division of palaeontology, who carried out the work while working at the University of New England in Australia. Bicknell and his collaborators in the United Kingdom, Germany, China and Switzerland have created the creature's new three-dimensional reconstruction, using computer modelling to get a better understanding of its biomechanics. The model was made on the basis of a well-preserved but flattened fossil discovered in the Burgess Shale formation in the Canadian Rockies. Using long appendages to hunt Earlier, research had stated that the mouth parts of Anomalocaris were not able to process hard food. On the basis of this research, Bicknell and his colleagues focused on whether it can use its long and spiny appendages to chew up trilobite prey. With the use of present-day whip spiders and whip scorpions as analogues, because they also have similar appendages which allow them to grasp prey, the team carrying out the study was able to show that the segmented appendages of the predator were able to grab prey and had the capacity to stretch out and flex. WATCH | Aliens: Are we looking in the wrong place? However, the analysis of the team suggested that the marine animal was more of a weakling than it was assumed initially and was “incapable” of crushing hard-shelled prey with the two structures, as per the study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B on Tuesday. “Previous conceptions were that these animals would have seen the Burgess Shale fauna as a smorgasbord, going after anything they wanted to, but we’re finding that the dynamics of the Cambrian food webs were likely much more complex than we once thought,” said Bicknell, in a statement. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists understood ancient shrimp like creature as 'predator', says new research

<p>Divorce is something we normally associate with humans. But, did you know birds too go through a divorce? A new study on bird breakups has revealed fascinating information. Affairs and lengthy spells of time apart can lead to divorce not just in humans but in birds too.</p>

<p>However, in contrast to human divorces, separation in birds is a bit different, it is not driven by emotions but rather something else. Here's all you need to know:</p>

<h2><strong>Bird divorces</strong></h2>

<p>As per a report in The Guardian, it is thought that approximately 90 per cent of bird species generally remain monogamous and have a single mate during a breeding season. However, some birds choose to divorce their partners and seek new mates for subsequent breeding seasons, even when their original mates are still alive.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/unveiling-the-depth-third-active-octopus-nursery-found-in-deep-sea-habitat-off-costa-rican-coast-watch-610518">Unveiling the depth: Third active octopus nursery found in deep-sea habitat off Costa Rican coast. Watch!</a></strong></p>

<p>This behaviour, known as "divorce" in birds, has intrigued researchers, who have sought to uncover the underlying factors behind these avian breakups. Earlier research had pegged the reason for avian separations as something to do with the "ultimate goal (which) is to maximise lifetime reproductive success."</p>

<p>Now, a team of researchers from China and Germany claims to have identified two key factors that contribute to divorce from a wide range of bird species: male promiscuity and long-distance migrations.&nbsp;The team published their findings in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.</p>

<h2><strong>How did researchers analyse bird divorces?</strong></h2>

<p>To investigate the factors associated with divorce in birds, the researchers analysed divorce rates, mortality data, and migration distances for 232 bird species. They assigned separate "promiscuity scores" to males and females of each species based on existing information about their mating behaviour.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additionally, they considered the evolutionary relationships between species to account for the impact of common ancestry.</p>

<h2><strong>Study findings</strong></h2>

<p>The results of the analysis revealed a notable pattern: species with high divorce rates tended to be closely related to each other, as did species with low divorce rates.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A similar pattern was observed for male promiscuity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Certain bird species such as plovers, swallows, martins, orioles, and blackbirds exhibited both high divorce rates and male promiscuity, while others such as petrels, albatrosses, geese, and swans displayed low divorce rates and male promiscuity.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chinese-scientist-he-jiankui-proposes-controversial-gene-editing-research-on-embryos-611545">Chinese scientist He Jiankui proposes controversial gene-editing research on embryos</a></strong></p>

<p>Interestingly, the researchers found that higher male promiscuity correlated with higher divorce rates, while female promiscuity did not have the same effect.</p>

<h2><strong>Male promiscuity vs. female promiscuity</strong></h2>

<p>As per Dr Zitan Song of Germany's Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, a co-author, male promiscuity is characterised by dividing attention and resources among multiple females, which they say can diminish the male's commitment and make him less attractive as a partner for the next breeding season.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On the other hand, mating with multiple females can enhance a male bird's fitness.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the researchers suggested that female promiscuity might not lead to the same consequences because uncertainty about offspring paternity could result in increased male involvement in parental care.</p>

<h2><strong>What else can lead to divorce in birds?</strong></h2>

<p>The study also uncovered a relationship between divorce rates and migration distances. Birds with longer migration distances tended to have higher divorce rates.&nbsp;Asynchronous arrival at breeding destinations could lead to a situation where early-arriving birds mate with different partners, resulting in divorce. Additionally, migrating birds might land in different breeding sites, unintentionally causing divorce due to separation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"After migrating, pairs may arrive at their destination asynchronously, leading to a situation where the early arrival might mate with a different partner, resulting in a ‘divorce’. Migration could also lead to pairs landing in different breeding sites, thereby causing ‘divorce’ due to accidental loss. This effect intensifies with increasing migration distance,” said Song.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Divorce can aid in facilitating immediate breeding upon arrival, rather than waiting for a previous partner," she added.</p>

<p>Longer migrations also narrowed the window for breeding, which might contribute to divorce as pairs seek immediate breeding opportunities upon arrival.</p>

<p>The results as per the researchers suggest that divorce in birds is not simply a strategy to enhance an individual's fitness or a response to ecological factors like migration, but may be influenced by both.</p>

<p>Dr Samantha Patrick, a marine biology expert from the University of Liverpool who was not involved in the study, welcomed the research. As per The Guardian, she found the results linking migration asynchrony to divorce particularly interesting. She remarked that climate change could increase variability in migration timings and potentially raise divorce rates across species. "As the climate becomes more unpredictable migration timings may become more variable and this paper suggests that across species this could increase divorce rates."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Divorce is something we normally associate with humans. But, did you know birds too go through a divorce? A new study on bird breakups has revealed fascinating information.

Divorce is something we normally associate with humans. But, did you know birds too go through a divorce? A new study on bird breakups has revealed fascinating information. Affairs and lengthy spells of time apart can lead to divorce not just in humans but in birds too. However, in contrast to human divorces, separation in birds is a bit different, it is not driven by emotions but rather something else. Here's all you need to know: Bird divorces As per a report in The Guardian, it is thought that approximately 90 per cent of bird species generally remain monogamous and have a single mate during a breeding season. However, some birds choose to divorce their partners and seek new mates for subsequent breeding seasons, even when their original mates are still alive. Also read | Unveiling the depth: Third active octopus nursery found in deep-sea habitat off Costa Rican coast. Watch! This behaviour, known as "divorce" in birds, has intrigued researchers, who have sought to uncover the underlying factors behind these avian breakups. Earlier research had pegged the reason for avian separations as something to do with the "ultimate goal (which) is to maximise lifetime reproductive success." Now, a team of researchers from China and Germany claims to have identified two key factors that contribute to divorce from a wide range of bird species: male promiscuity and long-distance migrations. The team published their findings in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. How did researchers analyse bird divorces? To investigate the factors associated with divorce in birds, the researchers analysed divorce rates, mortality data, and migration distances for 232 bird species. They assigned separate "promiscuity scores" to males and females of each species based on existing information about their mating behaviour. Additionally, they considered the evolutionary relationships between species to account for the impact of common ancestry. Study findings The results of the analysis revealed a notable pattern: species with high divorce rates tended to be closely related to each other, as did species with low divorce rates. A similar pattern was observed for male promiscuity. Certain bird species such as plovers, swallows, martins, orioles, and blackbirds exhibited both high divorce rates and male promiscuity, while others such as petrels, albatrosses, geese, and swans displayed low divorce rates and male promiscuity. Also read | Chinese scientist He Jiankui proposes controversial gene-editing research on embryos Interestingly, the researchers found that higher male promiscuity correlated with higher divorce rates, while female promiscuity did not have the same effect. Male promiscuity vs. female promiscuity As per Dr Zitan Song of Germany's Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, a co-author, male promiscuity is characterised by dividing attention and resources among multiple females, which they say can diminish the male's commitment and make him less attractive as a partner for the next breeding season. On the other hand, mating with multiple females can enhance a male bird's fitness. However, the researchers suggested that female promiscuity might not lead to the same consequences because uncertainty about offspring paternity could result in increased male involvement in parental care. What else can lead to divorce in birds? The study also uncovered a relationship between divorce rates and migration distances. Birds with longer migration distances tended to have higher divorce rates. Asynchronous arrival at breeding destinations could lead to a situation where early-arriving birds mate with different partners, resulting in divorce. Additionally, migrating birds might land in different breeding sites, unintentionally causing divorce due to separation. "After migrating, pairs may arrive at their destination asynchronously, leading to a situation where the early arrival might mate with a different partner, resulting in a ‘divorce’. Migration could also lead to pairs landing in different breeding sites, thereby causing ‘divorce’ due to accidental loss. This effect intensifies with increasing migration distance,” said Song. "Divorce can aid in facilitating immediate breeding upon arrival, rather than waiting for a previous partner," she added. Longer migrations also narrowed the window for breeding, which might contribute to divorce as pairs seek immediate breeding opportunities upon arrival. The results as per the researchers suggest that divorce in birds is not simply a strategy to enhance an individual's fitness or a response to ecological factors like migration, but may be influenced by both. Dr Samantha Patrick, a marine biology expert from the University of Liverpool who was not involved in the study, welcomed the research. As per The Guardian, she found the results linking migration asynchrony to divorce particularly interesting. She remarked that climate change could increase variability in migration timings and potentially raise divorce rates across species. "As the climate becomes more unpredictable migration timings may become more variable and this paper suggests that across species this could increase divorce rates." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Bird divorces are on the rise. Here's the fascinating reason behind avian breakups

<p>Exercising religiously, eating on time but not taking enough sleep? You might be losing out on benefits when it comes to protecting yourself against the decline in key skills such as memory and thinking, a new study has shown.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists at the&nbsp;University College London (UCL) highlighted the need for sleep to protect against cognitive decline,&nbsp;in a study&nbsp;published&nbsp;in the journal <em>The Lancet Healthy Longevity</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The methodology&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The team found that those in their 50s and 60s who were regularly exercising but slept less than six hours a night had a faster decline in motor skills. To arrive at the conclusion, the team peered through data from the&nbsp;English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (Elsa) from nearly 9,000 people aged 50 and over.</p>

<p>After selecting the pool, their cognitive function was assessed over a 10-year-long period.&nbsp;Questionnaires were presented to better understand how long they slept and whether it was less or more than six hours.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Interestingly, during the initial phase of the experiment, those who were physically more active had better cognitive skills, regardless of sleep duration. However, this changed over the 10-year period when short sleepers in their late 50s and early 60s experienced a rapid cognitive decline.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/us-fda-approves-new-breakthrough-medicine-for-alzheimers-heres-what-it-does-550175"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US FDA approves new ‘breakthrough’ medicine for Alzheimer’s. Here’s what it does</strong></a></p>

<p>“Our study suggests that getting sufficient sleep may be required for us to get the full cognitive benefits of physical activity.&nbsp;It shows how important it is to consider sleep and physical activity together when thinking about cognitive health," said&nbsp;Dr Mikaela Bloomberg, the lead author of the study.</p>

<p>“Previous studies examining how sleep and physical activity might combine to affect cognitive function have primarily been cross-sectional – only focusing on a snapshot in time – and we were surprised that regular physical activity may not always be sufficient to counter the long-term effects of lack of sleep on cognitive health," he added.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-breakthrough-in-alzheimers-treatment-538902"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Breakthrough in Alzheimer's treatment</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Those in 70s maintained motor function&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>While those in their 50s and 60s needed to sleep more to achieve cognitive nirvana, the study showed that people aged 70 and over had cognitive&nbsp;functions maintained, despite short sleep cycles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The World Health Organisation already identifies physical activity as a way to maintain cognitive function, but interventions should also consider sleep habits to maximise long-term benefits for cognitive health,” said Prof Andrew Steptoe, the co-author of the study.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Exercising religiously, eating on time but not taking enough sleep? You might be losing out on benefits when it comes to protecting yourself against the decline in key skills such as memory and thinking, a new study has shown.

Exercising religiously, eating on time but not taking enough sleep? You might be losing out on benefits when it comes to protecting yourself against the decline in key skills such as memory and thinking, a new study has shown. Scientists at the University College London (UCL) highlighted the need for sleep to protect against cognitive decline, in a study published in the journal The Lancet Healthy Longevity. The methodology The team found that those in their 50s and 60s who were regularly exercising but slept less than six hours a night had a faster decline in motor skills. To arrive at the conclusion, the team peered through data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (Elsa) from nearly 9,000 people aged 50 and over. After selecting the pool, their cognitive function was assessed over a 10-year-long period. Questionnaires were presented to better understand how long they slept and whether it was less or more than six hours. Interestingly, during the initial phase of the experiment, those who were physically more active had better cognitive skills, regardless of sleep duration. However, this changed over the 10-year period when short sleepers in their late 50s and early 60s experienced a rapid cognitive decline. Also read | US FDA approves new ‘breakthrough’ medicine for Alzheimer’s. Here’s what it does “Our study suggests that getting sufficient sleep may be required for us to get the full cognitive benefits of physical activity. It shows how important it is to consider sleep and physical activity together when thinking about cognitive health," said Dr Mikaela Bloomberg, the lead author of the study. “Previous studies examining how sleep and physical activity might combine to affect cognitive function have primarily been cross-sectional – only focusing on a snapshot in time – and we were surprised that regular physical activity may not always be sufficient to counter the long-term effects of lack of sleep on cognitive health," he added. WATCH | Gravitas: Breakthrough in Alzheimer's treatment Those in 70s maintained motor function While those in their 50s and 60s needed to sleep more to achieve cognitive nirvana, the study showed that people aged 70 and over had cognitive functions maintained, despite short sleep cycles. “The World Health Organisation already identifies physical activity as a way to maintain cognitive function, but interventions should also consider sleep habits to maximise long-term benefits for cognitive health,” said Prof Andrew Steptoe, the co-author of the study. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Skip sleep, increase risk of cognitive decline, research warns middle-aged people

<p>A groundbreaking study has unveiled the intricate nasal airway structure responsible for the exceptional olfactory abilities of domestic cats. Researchers have created a detailed 3D computer model of a cat's nose and simulated the flow of air carrying various food odours. The study reveals that the air in the cat's nasal passages separates into two distinct streams. One stream undergoes cleansing and humidification, while the other efficiently delivers the odour to the olfactory region.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The Cat Nose: A dual-purposed sensory tool</strong></h2>

<p>Scientists suggest that the cat nose functions as a highly efficient and dual-purposed gas chromatograph, a device used in laboratories to detect and separate chemicals in vaporised form.</p>

<p>The cat's nasal structure is so proficient in this regard that it could potentially inspire improvements to existing gas chromatographs.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-riots-600-people-arrested-200-cops-left-injured-as-violence-continues-on-third-night-610544">France riots: 600 people arrested, 200 cops left injured as violence continues on third night</a></p>

<p>The compact size of a cat's head, as opposed to the elongated snout of an alligator, likely drove an evolutionary change that led to the labyrinthine airway structure. This unique structure allows cats to adapt to diverse environments more effectively.</p>

<h2><strong>Understanding the flow patterns</strong></h2>

<p>The researchers discovered that the nasal structure optimises odour detection by providing a high-speed pathway for the odourants, bypassing the slower respiratory flow.</p>

<p>The simulation also revealed a surprising finding: once the odourant-laden air reaches the olfactory region, it is recirculated through parallel channels for an extended period.</p>

<p>"That was actually a surprise," Kai Zhao, the study's senior author said adding, "It's like you take a sniff, the air is shooting back there and then is being processed for a much longer time."</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/europe/uk-environment-minister-zac-goldsmith-resigns-accuses-rishi-sunak-of-neglecting-climate-change-610540">UK environment minister Zac Goldsmith resigns, accuses Rishi Sunak of neglecting Climate Change</a></p>

<p>This recirculation allows for more thorough odour processing. The researchers estimate that the cat's nose is over 100 times more efficient at odour detection compared to species with straight, amphibian-like noses of a similar size.</p>

<p>This study provides the first quantitative comparison of gas chromatography efficiency between mammals and other species. The research sheds light on the evolutionary pathways that have shaped different nose structures and their functional purposes.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | French President spotted at singer Elton John's concert amid riots</strong></p>

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<p>While much is known about vision and hearing, this study opens the door to a deeper understanding of the nose and its vital role in sensory perception.</p>

<p>"It's a good design if you think about it," said Zhao. "For mammals, olfaction is very important in finding prey, identifying danger, finding food sources and tracking the environment. In fact, a dog can take a sniff and know what has passed through - was it a friend or not?"&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The study's authors&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The study's senior author is Kai Zhao, an associate professor of otolaryngology at Ohio State's College of Medicine. Zhenxing Wu, a postdoctoral scholar in Zhao's lab, is the first author.</p>

<p>Other contributors include researchers from Monell Chemical Senses Center, Waltham Petcare Science Institute, and the University of Pennsylvania. The research received partial funding from the National Institutes of Health and Mars Petcare UK. The study was published in PLOS Computational Biology on June 29, 2023.</p>

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A groundbreaking study has unveiled the intricate nasal airway structure responsible for the exceptional olfactory abilities of domestic cats. Researchers have created a detailed 3D computer model of a cat's nose and simulated the flow of air carrying various food odours.

A groundbreaking study has unveiled the intricate nasal airway structure responsible for the exceptional olfactory abilities of domestic cats. Researchers have created a detailed 3D computer model of a cat's nose and simulated the flow of air carrying various food odours. The study reveals that the air in the cat's nasal passages separates into two distinct streams. One stream undergoes cleansing and humidification, while the other efficiently delivers the odour to the olfactory region. The Cat Nose: A dual-purposed sensory tool Scientists suggest that the cat nose functions as a highly efficient and dual-purposed gas chromatograph, a device used in laboratories to detect and separate chemicals in vaporised form. The cat's nasal structure is so proficient in this regard that it could potentially inspire improvements to existing gas chromatographs. Also Read | France riots: 600 people arrested, 200 cops left injured as violence continues on third night The compact size of a cat's head, as opposed to the elongated snout of an alligator, likely drove an evolutionary change that led to the labyrinthine airway structure. This unique structure allows cats to adapt to diverse environments more effectively. Understanding the flow patterns The researchers discovered that the nasal structure optimises odour detection by providing a high-speed pathway for the odourants, bypassing the slower respiratory flow. The simulation also revealed a surprising finding: once the odourant-laden air reaches the olfactory region, it is recirculated through parallel channels for an extended period. "That was actually a surprise," Kai Zhao, the study's senior author said adding, "It's like you take a sniff, the air is shooting back there and then is being processed for a much longer time." Also Read | UK environment minister Zac Goldsmith resigns, accuses Rishi Sunak of neglecting Climate Change This recirculation allows for more thorough odour processing. The researchers estimate that the cat's nose is over 100 times more efficient at odour detection compared to species with straight, amphibian-like noses of a similar size. This study provides the first quantitative comparison of gas chromatography efficiency between mammals and other species. The research sheds light on the evolutionary pathways that have shaped different nose structures and their functional purposes. Watch | French President spotted at singer Elton John's concert amid riots × While much is known about vision and hearing, this study opens the door to a deeper understanding of the nose and its vital role in sensory perception. "It's a good design if you think about it," said Zhao. "For mammals, olfaction is very important in finding prey, identifying danger, finding food sources and tracking the environment. In fact, a dog can take a sniff and know what has passed through - was it a friend or not?" The study's authors The study's senior author is Kai Zhao, an associate professor of otolaryngology at Ohio State's College of Medicine. Zhenxing Wu, a postdoctoral scholar in Zhao's lab, is the first author. Other contributors include researchers from Monell Chemical Senses Center, Waltham Petcare Science Institute, and the University of Pennsylvania. The research received partial funding from the National Institutes of Health and Mars Petcare UK. The study was published in PLOS Computational Biology on June 29, 2023. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

The cat nose: Study reveals secret behind feline's exceptional sniffing abilities

<p>A team of international scientists have made a remarkable discovery of a new deep-sea octopus nursery at a low-temperature hydrothermal vent off the coast of Costa Rica. With this amazing find, the number of the world's known octopus nurseries now stands at three.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The researchers, as per the Schmidt Ocean Institute website, have also confirmed that the Dorado Outcrop, previously identified as a gathering site for deep-sea octopuses, is indeed an active nursery.</p>

<h2><strong>Other important discoveries</strong></h2>

<p>As per the scientists, the octopus species found in the nursery may be a new species of Muusoctopus, a genus of small to medium-sized octopuses that lack an ink sac.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-why-there-is-giant-hole-in-indian-ocean-where-earths-gravity-is-at-weakest-610337">Scientists find why there is giant ‘hole' in Indian Ocean, where Earth’s gravity is at weakest</a></strong></p>

<p>Furthermore, the expedition has provided evidence supporting the idea that certain deep-sea octopus species specifically seek out low-temperature hydrothermal vents for brooding their eggs. The site featured low-temperature hydrothermal venting at around seven&nbsp;degree&nbsp;Celsius.</p>

<h2><strong>Octopus Odyssey&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The 19-day Octopus Odyssey expedition was led by Dr Beth Orcutt of the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and Dr Jorge Cortes of the University of Costa Rica. The team of 18 researchers from various countries conducted their research aboard the research vessel Falkor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Researchers discovered a previously unexplored unnamed outcrop where brooding octopuses were observed.&nbsp;They also witnessed the hatching of Muusoctopus octopuses, which helped dispel the notion that the Dorado Outcrop is unsuitable for octopus development.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When the nursery was initially discovered in 2013, it astounded scientists as it marked the first observation of female octopuses congregating to brood their eggs. However, no developing embryos were detected at the time, leading to doubts about the suitability of the conditions at the Dorado Outcrop for octopus growth.</p>

<p>The researchers used the ROV SuBastian, an underwater robot, to observe the seamounts and baby octopuses. The live dives were made available to the public in real-time through the live stream provided by the Schmidt Ocean Institute.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You can watch the fascinating underwater video here:</p>

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<h2><strong>New seamounts with new animal species discovered</strong></h2>

<p>The expedition also explored five previously unknown seamounts in the northwestern region of Costa Rica's waters. These seamounts displayed thriving biodiversity, and the researchers suspect that many of the hundreds of animal species observed there may be new to science.</p>

<p>Dr Jyotika Virmani, Executive Director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, emphasised the significance of the discovery and said, "The discovery of a new active octopus nursery over 2,800 metres beneath the sea surface in Costa Rican waters proves there is still so much to learn about our oceans."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/budget-constraints-force-australia-to-abandon-billion-dollar-space-satellite-programme-610327">Budget constraints force Australia to abandon billion-dollar space satellite programme</a></strong></p>

<p>"The deep-sea off Costa Rica rides the edge of human imagination, with spectacular footage collected by ROV SuBastian of tripod fish, octopus hatchlings, and coral gardens. We look forward to continuing to help the world witness and study the wonders of our incredible ocean," she added.</p>

<h2><strong>Protection needed?</strong></h2>

<p>The seamounts, including the Dorado Outcrop, currently lack protection from human activities like fishing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Half of the team involved in the expedition consisted of Costa Rican scientists, some of whom are reportedly working to assess the need for protection measures and the potential designation of marine protected areas for these seamounts.</p>

<p>In the laboratory, scientists will conduct examinations on sediment push cores, which hold immense value in terms of providing stratigraphic data about the seafloor and offering insights into microbial life.</p>

<p>As per Cortes, the expedition has not only provided valuable scientific data and samples but also serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about the richness of the deep-sea ecosystems in Costa Rica and the importance of their protection.</p>

<p>"This expedition to the Pacific deep waters of Costa Rica has been a superb opportunity for us to get to know our own country."</p>

<p>"The information, samples, and images are important to Costa Rica to show its richness and will be used for scientific studies, and outreach to raise awareness of what we have and why we should protect it."</p>

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A team of international scientists have made a remarkable discovery of a new deep-sea octopus nursery at a low-temperature hydrothermal vent off the coast of Costa Rica.

A team of international scientists have made a remarkable discovery of a new deep-sea octopus nursery at a low-temperature hydrothermal vent off the coast of Costa Rica. With this amazing find, the number of the world's known octopus nurseries now stands at three. The researchers, as per the Schmidt Ocean Institute website, have also confirmed that the Dorado Outcrop, previously identified as a gathering site for deep-sea octopuses, is indeed an active nursery. Other important discoveries As per the scientists, the octopus species found in the nursery may be a new species of Muusoctopus, a genus of small to medium-sized octopuses that lack an ink sac. Also read | Scientists find why there is giant ‘hole' in Indian Ocean, where Earth’s gravity is at weakest Furthermore, the expedition has provided evidence supporting the idea that certain deep-sea octopus species specifically seek out low-temperature hydrothermal vents for brooding their eggs. The site featured low-temperature hydrothermal venting at around seven degree Celsius. Octopus Odyssey The 19-day Octopus Odyssey expedition was led by Dr Beth Orcutt of the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and Dr Jorge Cortes of the University of Costa Rica. The team of 18 researchers from various countries conducted their research aboard the research vessel Falkor. Researchers discovered a previously unexplored unnamed outcrop where brooding octopuses were observed. They also witnessed the hatching of Muusoctopus octopuses, which helped dispel the notion that the Dorado Outcrop is unsuitable for octopus development. When the nursery was initially discovered in 2013, it astounded scientists as it marked the first observation of female octopuses congregating to brood their eggs. However, no developing embryos were detected at the time, leading to doubts about the suitability of the conditions at the Dorado Outcrop for octopus growth. The researchers used the ROV SuBastian, an underwater robot, to observe the seamounts and baby octopuses. The live dives were made available to the public in real-time through the live stream provided by the Schmidt Ocean Institute. You can watch the fascinating underwater video here: × New seamounts with new animal species discovered The expedition also explored five previously unknown seamounts in the northwestern region of Costa Rica's waters. These seamounts displayed thriving biodiversity, and the researchers suspect that many of the hundreds of animal species observed there may be new to science. Dr Jyotika Virmani, Executive Director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, emphasised the significance of the discovery and said, "The discovery of a new active octopus nursery over 2,800 metres beneath the sea surface in Costa Rican waters proves there is still so much to learn about our oceans." Also read | Budget constraints force Australia to abandon billion-dollar space satellite programme "The deep-sea off Costa Rica rides the edge of human imagination, with spectacular footage collected by ROV SuBastian of tripod fish, octopus hatchlings, and coral gardens. We look forward to continuing to help the world witness and study the wonders of our incredible ocean," she added. Protection needed? The seamounts, including the Dorado Outcrop, currently lack protection from human activities like fishing. Half of the team involved in the expedition consisted of Costa Rican scientists, some of whom are reportedly working to assess the need for protection measures and the potential designation of marine protected areas for these seamounts. In the laboratory, scientists will conduct examinations on sediment push cores, which hold immense value in terms of providing stratigraphic data about the seafloor and offering insights into microbial life. As per Cortes, the expedition has not only provided valuable scientific data and samples but also serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about the richness of the deep-sea ecosystems in Costa Rica and the importance of their protection. "This expedition to the Pacific deep waters of Costa Rica has been a superb opportunity for us to get to know our own country." "The information, samples, and images are important to Costa Rica to show its richness and will be used for scientific studies, and outreach to raise awareness of what we have and why we should protect it." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Unveiling the depth: Third active octopus nursery found in deep-sea habitat off Costa Rican coast. Watch!

<p>In the incident of a cleaner at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in&nbsp;New York, erasing decades of research by switching off the lab’s freezer, the college has initiated legal action against the cleaner’s employer, Daigle Cleaning Systems.&nbsp;Narrating the root causes of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/costly-mistake-cleaner-turns-of-freezer-accidentally-destroys-decades-of-research-in-new-york-college-609452">incident</a>, the attorney representing the college, Michael Ginsberg, spoke exclusively to WION. He highlighted the details of the incident as well as the insights into the lawsuit and the lab’s future course of action.</p>

<p>Speaking to WION, Michael said that the college is seeking a monetary amount that is necessary to recreate the research. He said that they want Daigle Cleaning Systems to compensate the institute for the cost of recreating the research, including the cost of labour and material of chemical compounds.</p>

<p>“The amount necessary is slightly below a million dollars,” Michael exclaimed while adding that the mistake cost them the research of more than 20 years.</p>

<p>However, he also told WION that they consider it to be a human error not done with any intent of causing harm or sabotage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I will say that we don’t believe that this was an intentional act. We don’t believe any bad intention or sabotage of any sort was behind this. It was a human error that resulted in the loss of the extensive amount of research which now needs to be recreated,” Michael told WION.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the attorney, this research was a combination of about 20-25 years of study. It was related to the molecular mechanisms or makeup of solar energy conversion for natural and artificial synthetic systems and synthetic reactions.<br />
<br />
The research also looked at cell cultures in incredibly low temperatures, and it related to the viability and sustainability of solar energy and future advances in the development and use of solar energy.</p>

<p>However, when asked if it will take another 20-25 years to restore the research now, Michael said that he doesn’t believe that it is going to be another 20 years for it because they already have the data. They will not be completely reinventing it, but they will recreate the culture of that research.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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In the incident of a cleaner at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in New York, erasing decades of research by switching off the lab’s freezer, the college has initiated legal action against the cleaner’s employer, Daigle Cleaning Systems.

In the incident of a cleaner at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in New York, erasing decades of research by switching off the lab’s freezer, the college has initiated legal action against the cleaner’s employer, Daigle Cleaning Systems. Narrating the root causes of the incident, the attorney representing the college, Michael Ginsberg, spoke exclusively to WION. He highlighted the details of the incident as well as the insights into the lawsuit and the lab’s future course of action. Speaking to WION, Michael said that the college is seeking a monetary amount that is necessary to recreate the research. He said that they want Daigle Cleaning Systems to compensate the institute for the cost of recreating the research, including the cost of labour and material of chemical compounds. “The amount necessary is slightly below a million dollars,” Michael exclaimed while adding that the mistake cost them the research of more than 20 years. However, he also told WION that they consider it to be a human error not done with any intent of causing harm or sabotage. “I will say that we don’t believe that this was an intentional act. We don’t believe any bad intention or sabotage of any sort was behind this. It was a human error that resulted in the loss of the extensive amount of research which now needs to be recreated,” Michael told WION. According to the attorney, this research was a combination of about 20-25 years of study. It was related to the molecular mechanisms or makeup of solar energy conversion for natural and artificial synthetic systems and synthetic reactions. The research also looked at cell cultures in incredibly low temperatures, and it related to the viability and sustainability of solar energy and future advances in the development and use of solar energy. However, when asked if it will take another 20-25 years to restore the research now, Michael said that he doesn’t believe that it is going to be another 20 years for it because they already have the data. They will not be completely reinventing it, but they will recreate the culture of that research. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Million-dollar error: ‘Monetary amount needed to compensate research recreation,’ institute tells WION

<p>Geoffrey Hinton, a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) who is often called one of the 'godfathers of AI', has called on governments to intervene and prevent machines from taking control of society. Speaking at the Collision tech conference in Toronto, Hinton emphasised the importance of understanding how AI might attempt to take control before it surpasses human intelligence.</p>

<p>Hinton, who recently left Google to speak more openly about the risks of AI, expressed his concern that the risks associated with AI should not be dismissed as science fiction or fear-mongering.</p>

<h2><strong>Take action now "before AI is smarter than us"</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking at the conference that brought together more than 30,000 investors, tech workers and startup founders, Hinton said: "Before AI is smarter than us, I think the people developing it should be encouraged to put a lot of work into understanding how it might try and take control away."</p>

<p>"Right now there are 99 very smart people trying to make AI better and one very smart person trying to figure out how to stop it taking over and maybe you want to be more balanced," he added.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/ai-attempts-to-bring-dead-back-to-life-give-people-closure-601951">AI attempts to bring dead back to life, give people closure</a></strong></p>

<p>Hinton emphasised that the risks associated with AI should not be dismissed as science fiction or fear-mongering. He stressed the importance of proactively considering and preparing for the real risks that AI presents.</p>

<p>"I think it's important that people understand that this is not science fiction, this is not just fear mongering," said the respected AI pioneer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is a real risk that we must think about, and we need to figure out in advance how to deal with it," he insisted.</p>

<h2><strong>AI, social inequality and fake news</strong></h2>

<p>As per Hinton, it's not just the threat of a takeover, AI also threatens to deepen pre-existing inequalities. He argued that AI's benefits and productivity gains are likely to benefit the wealthy.</p>

<p>"The wealth isn't going to go to the people doing the work. It will go into making the rich richer and not the poorer and that's very bad for society."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/wion-explains-upcoming-us-uk-elections-and-the-threat-of-ai-fueled-disinformation-594516">WION Explains: Upcoming US, UK elections and the threat of AI-fuelled disinformation</a></strong></p>

<p>Hinton also highlighted the problem of fake news generated by AI-powered systems like ChatGPT. He suggested the possibility of marking AI-generated content as fake, similar to how central banks watermark cash money, though he acknowledged technical challenges in implementing such a solution.</p>

<p>"It's very important to try, for example, to mark everything that is fake as fake. Whether we can do that technically, I don't know," he said.</p>

<h2><strong>It's not all bad</strong></h2>

<p>AFP reports that while Hinton focused on the risks and challenges of AI, other discussions at the conference were more optimistic, focusing on seizing the opportunities presented by AI advancements.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One participant Venture Capitalist Sarah Guo suggested that concerns about AI as an existential threat were premature, likening them to "talking about overpopulation on Mars. "</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Geoffrey Hinton, a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) who is often called one of the 'godfathers of AI', has called on governments to intervene and prevent machines from taking control of society.

Geoffrey Hinton, a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) who is often called one of the 'godfathers of AI', has called on governments to intervene and prevent machines from taking control of society. Speaking at the Collision tech conference in Toronto, Hinton emphasised the importance of understanding how AI might attempt to take control before it surpasses human intelligence. Hinton, who recently left Google to speak more openly about the risks of AI, expressed his concern that the risks associated with AI should not be dismissed as science fiction or fear-mongering. Take action now "before AI is smarter than us" Speaking at the conference that brought together more than 30,000 investors, tech workers and startup founders, Hinton said: "Before AI is smarter than us, I think the people developing it should be encouraged to put a lot of work into understanding how it might try and take control away." "Right now there are 99 very smart people trying to make AI better and one very smart person trying to figure out how to stop it taking over and maybe you want to be more balanced," he added. Also read | AI attempts to bring dead back to life, give people closure Hinton emphasised that the risks associated with AI should not be dismissed as science fiction or fear-mongering. He stressed the importance of proactively considering and preparing for the real risks that AI presents. "I think it's important that people understand that this is not science fiction, this is not just fear mongering," said the respected AI pioneer. "It is a real risk that we must think about, and we need to figure out in advance how to deal with it," he insisted. AI, social inequality and fake news As per Hinton, it's not just the threat of a takeover, AI also threatens to deepen pre-existing inequalities. He argued that AI's benefits and productivity gains are likely to benefit the wealthy. "The wealth isn't going to go to the people doing the work. It will go into making the rich richer and not the poorer and that's very bad for society." Also read | WION Explains: Upcoming US, UK elections and the threat of AI-fuelled disinformation Hinton also highlighted the problem of fake news generated by AI-powered systems like ChatGPT. He suggested the possibility of marking AI-generated content as fake, similar to how central banks watermark cash money, though he acknowledged technical challenges in implementing such a solution. "It's very important to try, for example, to mark everything that is fake as fake. Whether we can do that technically, I don't know," he said. It's not all bad AFP reports that while Hinton focused on the risks and challenges of AI, other discussions at the conference were more optimistic, focusing on seizing the opportunities presented by AI advancements. One participant Venture Capitalist Sarah Guo suggested that concerns about AI as an existential threat were premature, likening them to "talking about overpopulation on Mars. " (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Godfather of AI calls for action 'before AI is smarter than us', warns looming takeover isn't science fiction

<p>A recent study has exposed the alarming consequences of climate change with the findings suggesting that as the planet heats up it will result in extreme precipitation with snowfall turning into rain in high-altitude regions, a phenomenon which will in turn increase the risk of landslides and floods, media reports said.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The study was published in the journal Nature and reveals how mountain regions will experience more intense rainfall than previously anticipated in earlier research. This heightened precipitation poses greater risks, such as floods, landslides, and soil erosion, in comparison to the risk of snowfall.</p>

<h2><strong>Climate change impact&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>While scientists have studied the overall increase in extreme precipitation due to climate change, the study breaks down the proportion of extreme precipitation that falls as snow versus rain. The distinction is crucial because rain tends to have more adverse effects on human lives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-dhruv-advanced-light-helicopter-safety-flaws-addressed-says-report-609658">India: Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter safety flaws addressed, says report</a></p>

<p>The study, led by Mohammed Ombadi, an environmental data scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the US state of California, found that for every one degree Celsius increase in global temperature, higher elevations can expect a 15 percent rise in extreme rainfall.</p>

<p>This increase is nearly double what climate scientists had previously estimated for both rain and snow combined. It specifically applies to regions above approximately 2,000 meters or 6,500 feet in elevation, as per media reports.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Implications for human populations</strong></h2>

<p>Approximately one-quarter of the global population resides in mountain regions or directly downstream from them. While landslides mainly affect local areas, floods have more widespread impacts on people downstream.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sweden-police-allow-quran-burning-protest-outside-stockholms-main-mosque-609615">Sweden police allow Quran burning protest outside Stockholm’s main mosque</a></p>

<p>Additionally, soil erosion can undermine agricultural lands, natural ecosystems, and exacerbate the risks of floods and landslides. These threats add to the challenges posed by melting glaciers in the same mountain ranges and river valleys.</p>

<h2><strong>Analysing historical data and climate projections</strong></h2>

<p>Dr. Ombadi and his colleagues analysed historical data from 1950 to 2019, along with climate change projections till 21st century. They focused on temperate and Arctic regions in the Northern Hemisphere, as data from the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere were limited. Their modeling of various global warming scenarios revealed a consistent increase in extreme rainfall for each degree of warming.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The impact of elevation on rainfall increase</strong></h2>

<p>The researchers discovered that the higher the elevation, the greater the increase in extreme rainfall. Unlike the relationship between rising temperatures and precipitation, this change wasn't linear.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Concert economics explained: The craze for high-profile concerts</strong></p>

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<p>They observed a larger increase in rainfall as they analysed higher elevations. Additionally, different mountain ranges in the Northern Hemisphere exhibited slight variations in the risk of extreme rainfall, which researchers are still working to understand.</p>

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A recent study has exposed the alarming consequences of climate change with the findings suggesting that as the planet heats up it will result in extreme precipitation with snowfall turning into rain in high-altitude regions, a phenomenon which will in turn increase the risk of landslides and floods, media reports said.

A recent study has exposed the alarming consequences of climate change with the findings suggesting that as the planet heats up it will result in extreme precipitation with snowfall turning into rain in high-altitude regions, a phenomenon which will in turn increase the risk of landslides and floods, media reports said. The study was published in the journal Nature and reveals how mountain regions will experience more intense rainfall than previously anticipated in earlier research. This heightened precipitation poses greater risks, such as floods, landslides, and soil erosion, in comparison to the risk of snowfall. Climate change impact While scientists have studied the overall increase in extreme precipitation due to climate change, the study breaks down the proportion of extreme precipitation that falls as snow versus rain. The distinction is crucial because rain tends to have more adverse effects on human lives. Also Read | India: Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter safety flaws addressed, says report The study, led by Mohammed Ombadi, an environmental data scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the US state of California, found that for every one degree Celsius increase in global temperature, higher elevations can expect a 15 percent rise in extreme rainfall. This increase is nearly double what climate scientists had previously estimated for both rain and snow combined. It specifically applies to regions above approximately 2,000 meters or 6,500 feet in elevation, as per media reports. Implications for human populations Approximately one-quarter of the global population resides in mountain regions or directly downstream from them. While landslides mainly affect local areas, floods have more widespread impacts on people downstream. Also Read | Sweden police allow Quran burning protest outside Stockholm’s main mosque Additionally, soil erosion can undermine agricultural lands, natural ecosystems, and exacerbate the risks of floods and landslides. These threats add to the challenges posed by melting glaciers in the same mountain ranges and river valleys. Analysing historical data and climate projections Dr. Ombadi and his colleagues analysed historical data from 1950 to 2019, along with climate change projections till 21st century. They focused on temperate and Arctic regions in the Northern Hemisphere, as data from the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere were limited. Their modeling of various global warming scenarios revealed a consistent increase in extreme rainfall for each degree of warming. The impact of elevation on rainfall increase The researchers discovered that the higher the elevation, the greater the increase in extreme rainfall. Unlike the relationship between rising temperatures and precipitation, this change wasn't linear. Watch | Concert economics explained: The craze for high-profile concerts × They observed a larger increase in rainfall as they analysed higher elevations. Additionally, different mountain ranges in the Northern Hemisphere exhibited slight variations in the risk of extreme rainfall, which researchers are still working to understand. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Climate change to turn snow into extreme rainfalls in high-altitude regions, risk of landslides: Study

<p>In a devastating incident, a cleaner at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York, inadvertently erased decades of research by switching off&nbsp;a freezer in an attempt to silence what they deemed "annoying alarm" sounds.</p>

<p>The college has initiated legal action against the cleaner's employer, Daigle Cleaning Systems, claiming insufficient training, reported the Guardian.</p>

<p>As per the lawsuit recently filed in the New York Supreme Court in Rensselaer County, RPI is seeking damages exceeding $1 million, as reported by the Times Union newspaper.</p>

<p>The attorney representing RPI, Michael Ginsberg, expressed disappointment, stating, "People's behaviour and negligence caused all this. Unfortunately, they wiped out 25 years of research."</p>

<p><strong>Also watch&nbsp;|</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-video-of-furniture-flying-across-cruise-amid-rainstorm-in-us-goes-viral-609349">Video of furniture flying across cruise amid rainstorm in US goes viral</a></p>

<h2><strong>What really happened?</strong></h2>

<p>The incident occurred in 2020 when the unnamed cleaner worked for several months at RPI. The lab freezer that fell victim to the mishap contained various cultures crucial to a long-term research project on photosynthesis led by Professor KV Lakshmi from the biology and chemistry department, as reported by the BBC.</p>

<p>Typically, these cultures were stored at an ultra-low temperature of -112°F (-80°C).</p>

<p>On September 14, 2020, a few days before the freezer was unplugged, an alarm alerted lab personnel of temperature fluctuations.</p>

<p>The lawsuit highlights that, at that point, the specimens remained viable. Due to COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time, repairs could not be carried out for a week.</p>

<p>To safeguard the cultures and provide an explanation for the alarm, lab officials posted signs indicating the source of the noise and instructions on how to mute it.</p>

<p>In an effort to prevent further mishaps, Lakshmi installed a lock box on the freezer's outlet and socket to prevent anyone from unplugging it.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;KPMG to cut 5% of jobs in the US</strong></p>

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<p>However, on September 17, the employee from Daigle Cleaning Systems mistakenly switched off the circuit breaker, causing the freezer's temperature to rise.</p>

<p>The following day, lab officials made the heart-wrenching discovery that the samples had become irreparably damaged.</p>

<p>The lawsuit states, "[A] majority of specimens were compromised, destroyed, and rendered unsalvageable, demolishing more than 20 years of research."</p>

<p>During an interview with university officials, the cleaner expressed that they believed they were turning the circuit breaker on in response to the alarms.</p>

<p>The lawsuit noted that even after the interview, the cleaner failed to comprehend their mistake and maintained they were only trying to assist, attributing the incident to an "error" in reading the panel.</p>

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In a devastating incident, a cleaner at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York, inadvertently erased decades of research by switching off a freezer in an attempt to silence what they deemed "annoying alarm" sounds.

In a devastating incident, a cleaner at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York, inadvertently erased decades of research by switching off a freezer in an attempt to silence what they deemed "annoying alarm" sounds. The college has initiated legal action against the cleaner's employer, Daigle Cleaning Systems, claiming insufficient training, reported the Guardian. As per the lawsuit recently filed in the New York Supreme Court in Rensselaer County, RPI is seeking damages exceeding $1 million, as reported by the Times Union newspaper. The attorney representing RPI, Michael Ginsberg, expressed disappointment, stating, "People's behaviour and negligence caused all this. Unfortunately, they wiped out 25 years of research." Also watch | Video of furniture flying across cruise amid rainstorm in US goes viral What really happened? The incident occurred in 2020 when the unnamed cleaner worked for several months at RPI. The lab freezer that fell victim to the mishap contained various cultures crucial to a long-term research project on photosynthesis led by Professor KV Lakshmi from the biology and chemistry department, as reported by the BBC. Typically, these cultures were stored at an ultra-low temperature of -112°F (-80°C). On September 14, 2020, a few days before the freezer was unplugged, an alarm alerted lab personnel of temperature fluctuations. The lawsuit highlights that, at that point, the specimens remained viable. Due to COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time, repairs could not be carried out for a week. To safeguard the cultures and provide an explanation for the alarm, lab officials posted signs indicating the source of the noise and instructions on how to mute it. In an effort to prevent further mishaps, Lakshmi installed a lock box on the freezer's outlet and socket to prevent anyone from unplugging it. Also watch | KPMG to cut 5% of jobs in the US However, on September 17, the employee from Daigle Cleaning Systems mistakenly switched off the circuit breaker, causing the freezer's temperature to rise. The following day, lab officials made the heart-wrenching discovery that the samples had become irreparably damaged. The lawsuit states, "[A] majority of specimens were compromised, destroyed, and rendered unsalvageable, demolishing more than 20 years of research." During an interview with university officials, the cleaner expressed that they believed they were turning the circuit breaker on in response to the alarms. The lawsuit noted that even after the interview, the cleaner failed to comprehend their mistake and maintained they were only trying to assist, attributing the incident to an "error" in reading the panel. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Costly mistake': Cleaner turns off freezer, accidentally destroys decades of research in New York college

<p>What would you do if you could modify your body to add mechanical parts? If you could just go up to a shop and ask for cyborg arms or legs? What would the society look like? This scenario does seem like something straight out of a science fiction comic. However, it is the reality that has been made possible by a Japan-based researcher and his team.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Masahiko Inami and his team have come up with robotic arms that can be worn by a user and can move in tune with a human.</p>

<h2><strong>Jizai Arms</strong></h2>

<p>The technology named "Jizai Arms" takes inspiration from 'The Arm', a quasi-horror traditional Japanese story by novelist Yasunari Kawabata. The short story revolves around an ageing man who becomes obsessed with a beautiful young woman and borrows one of her arms for the night.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-shortage-hong-kongs-apartment-building-for-the-dead-offers-final-resting-place-at-58000-for-two-609053">Amid shortage Hong Kong's 'apartment building for the dead' offers final resting place at $58,000 for two</a></strong></p>

<p>As per Reuters, Inami and his team. are further developing a series of technologies, all rooted in the idea of "jizai". The Japanese term, as per Inami, roughly relates to autonomy and an individual's freedom to do as he pleases.</p>

<h2><strong>Why develop cyborg arms?</strong></h2>

<p>As per the researcher, the aim behind developing 'Jizai arms' is to foster a relationship similar to music and instrument between machine and man.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Lying somewhere between a human and a tool, like how a musical instrument can become as if a part of your body," is how the University of Tokyo researcher describes it.</p>

<p>He says that rather than replace humans, the technology aims to "support us" and "unlock creativity".</p>

<p>"This is absolutely not a rival to human beings, but rather something that helps us do as we please, like a bicycle or e-bike. It supports us and can unlock creativity," said Inami.</p>

<h2><strong>What can the robot arms do?</strong></h2>

<p>If you're wondering how it would feel to wear the cyborg arms and whether it'll feel bulky or weighed down. Inami has revealed that many wearers actually grow attached to the arms.</p>

<p>While testing the technology, researchers discovered that "Taking them off after using them for a while feels a little sad. That's where they're a little different to other tools."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/previously-undocumented-effect-of-ivf-uncovered-helps-1-in-5-women-conceive-naturally-second-time-around-606828">Previously undocumented effect of IVF uncovered; helps 1-in-5 women conceive naturally second time around</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>In a promotional video of the "Jizai Arms" ballet dancers can be seen performing a dance routine with the robotic arms strapped to their backs and torso. The humans and the machine can be seen moving in concert. The aesthetic dance routine ends with the two dancers embracing as their cyborg arms also envelop each other.</p>

<p>Watch the mesmerising video here:</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="es">🦾💡 Jizai Arms: los brazos robóticos portátiles impulsados por IA 🔬🤖<br />
<br />
Los primeros de su tipo, creados por una empresa robótica japonesa, ofrecen una interacción única y natural con la IA y los robots. ¡El futuro se vuelve realidad! 🌟💪 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tecnologia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tecnologia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JizaiArms?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JizaiArms</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rob%C3%B3tica?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Robótica</a> <a href="https://t.co/Z7x9J3Wq9O">pic.twitter.com/Z7x9J3Wq9O</a></p>
— iTree Training (@itreetraining) <a href="https://twitter.com/itreetraining/status/1671593830108528641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>These robot arms can do more than just dance or turn a novelist's imagination into reality. As per Inami, these can prove very useful in search and rescue missions. "In the future, we might see wings growing out of people's backs, or drones attached to people ... Maybe someone will come up with a sport that requires six arms or invent a new type of swimming," speculates the University of Tokyo researcher.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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What would you do if you could modify your body to add mechanical parts? If you could just go up to a shop and ask for cyborg arms or legs? What would the society look like?

What would you do if you could modify your body to add mechanical parts? If you could just go up to a shop and ask for cyborg arms or legs? What would the society look like? This scenario does seem like something straight out of a science fiction comic. However, it is the reality that has been made possible by a Japan-based researcher and his team. Masahiko Inami and his team have come up with robotic arms that can be worn by a user and can move in tune with a human. Jizai Arms The technology named "Jizai Arms" takes inspiration from 'The Arm', a quasi-horror traditional Japanese story by novelist Yasunari Kawabata. The short story revolves around an ageing man who becomes obsessed with a beautiful young woman and borrows one of her arms for the night. Also read | Amid shortage Hong Kong's 'apartment building for the dead' offers final resting place at $58,000 for two As per Reuters, Inami and his team. are further developing a series of technologies, all rooted in the idea of "jizai". The Japanese term, as per Inami, roughly relates to autonomy and an individual's freedom to do as he pleases. Why develop cyborg arms? As per the researcher, the aim behind developing 'Jizai arms' is to foster a relationship similar to music and instrument between machine and man. "Lying somewhere between a human and a tool, like how a musical instrument can become as if a part of your body," is how the University of Tokyo researcher describes it. He says that rather than replace humans, the technology aims to "support us" and "unlock creativity". "This is absolutely not a rival to human beings, but rather something that helps us do as we please, like a bicycle or e-bike. It supports us and can unlock creativity," said Inami. What can the robot arms do? If you're wondering how it would feel to wear the cyborg arms and whether it'll feel bulky or weighed down. Inami has revealed that many wearers actually grow attached to the arms. While testing the technology, researchers discovered that "Taking them off after using them for a while feels a little sad. That's where they're a little different to other tools." Also read | Previously undocumented effect of IVF uncovered; helps 1-in-5 women conceive naturally second time around In a promotional video of the "Jizai Arms" ballet dancers can be seen performing a dance routine with the robotic arms strapped to their backs and torso. The humans and the machine can be seen moving in concert. The aesthetic dance routine ends with the two dancers embracing as their cyborg arms also envelop each other. Watch the mesmerising video here: 🦾💡 Jizai Arms: los brazos robóticos portátiles impulsados por IA 🔬🤖 Los primeros de su tipo, creados por una empresa robótica japonesa, ofrecen una interacción única y natural con la IA y los robots. ¡El futuro se vuelve realidad! 🌟💪 #Tecnologia #JizaiArms #IA #Robótica pic.twitter.com/Z7x9J3Wq9O — iTree Training (@itreetraining) June 21, 2023 × These robot arms can do more than just dance or turn a novelist's imagination into reality. As per Inami, these can prove very useful in search and rescue missions. "In the future, we might see wings growing out of people's backs, or drones attached to people ... Maybe someone will come up with a sport that requires six arms or invent a new type of swimming," speculates the University of Tokyo researcher. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japanese researchers turn horror story to reality, develop cyborg 'Jizai Arms' that can be strapped on. Watch!

<p>Researchers at the Royal Botanic Gardens (RGB), Kew and their partners have found what is described as the only known member of the palm family which flowers and fruits almost entirely underground. The findings of the study were published in the journal <em>PALMS</em>&nbsp;on Monday. Given the plant’s unique characteristics, researchers have named the new-to-science species <em>Pinanga subterranea</em>, which means ‘underground’ in Latin.</p>

<h2><strong>Where was the plant found?</strong></h2>

<p>The plant and its fruit are native to the tropical island of Borneo in Southeast Asia where it is well-known to locals, some of whom even consume the bright-red fruit which is said to be sweet and juicy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, <em>P.subterranea</em> was overlooked by scientists for years now, who have found some 300 different species of palm on the island. The plant is known in at least three Bornean languages under the names, Pinang Tanah, Pinang Pipit, Muring Pelandok, and Tudong Pelandok, by the locals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The international team of researchers said that the plant can be found across the primary rainforests of western Borneo and scattered across the borders from Malaysia’s Sarawak to Indonesia’s Kalimantan.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Need for collaboration</strong></h2>

<p>According to researchers, the plant was hiding in plain sight and has been overlooked by the scientific community for years now.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Without the tip-off from our Malaysian colleague Dr Paul Chai, we probably would have mistaken this exciting new species for an unremarkable palm seedling and would have walked right past it,” said Dr Benedikt Kuhnhäuser a future leader fellow at RGB, Kew, who was also a part of the research team.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, “Instead, we have scientifically described an incredibly rare case of geoflory&nbsp;that is underground flowering, and the very first known example of its kind in the entire palm family. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.”<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What makes the plant so unique?</strong></h2>

<p>While a majority of flowering plants have evolved to develop their flowers and fruit above ground since it helps with pollination and the dispersal of seeds, there is a small subset of plants that have evolved to carry out this process underground.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Therefore, <em>P.subterranea</em> not only joins the more than 2,500 species of palm (that the scientists know about so far) but also at least 171 species across 89 genera and 33 plant families, which are known to flower and fruit underground through the process of geoflory and geocarpy, respectively.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, <em>P. subterranea</em> is a case of a dual instance of geocarpy and geoflory, which has been all the more baffling for the researchers since the Pinanga genus is typically pollinated by insects and cannot move around as easily below ground as above.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The international team of scientists found a high number of seeds and fruit set by the plant which indicates that there has been a successful pollination mechanism&nbsp;which remains unknown to the researchers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I have been studying palms for 30 years and am amazed at how they continue to surprise us,” said Dr William Baker, senior research leader at Tree of Life at RBG Kew.</p>

<p>He added, “This unexpected find poses many more questions than it answers. What is pollinating the palm? How does the pollinator find the flowers underground? How did this phenomenon evolve and what on Earth will palms surprise us with next?”</p>

<h2><strong>Not the first discovery</strong></h2>

<p>It is also worth noting that while the recent team of international scientists collected specimens and ascertained that the species was new to science, Agusti Randi, an Indonesian researcher from the National University of Singapore and lead author of the study conducted had also encountered a couple of specimens of the palm back in 2017.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Randi’s study, at least one of the samples collected appeared to have been dug up by wild pigs while others were most likely eaten or crushed by the animals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The first time I encountered this dwarf palm in 2017 in a forest in West Kalimantan, a group of wild boars were digging in the soil around a population of <em>P. subterranea</em>, and I found several ripe fruit&nbsp;with a striking, bright red colour lying on the ground,” said the lead author about the findings.</p>

<p>He also spoke about how he noticed that the stems of the palm were dug up by the wild boars to find the fruit which was underground. “Their faeces were also strewn around in puddles with the seeds contained in them,” said Randi.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Researchers at the Royal Botanic Gardens (RGB), Kew and their partners have found what is described as the only known member of the palm family which flowers and fruits almost entirely underground.

Researchers at the Royal Botanic Gardens (RGB), Kew and their partners have found what is described as the only known member of the palm family which flowers and fruits almost entirely underground. The findings of the study were published in the journal PALMS on Monday. Given the plant’s unique characteristics, researchers have named the new-to-science species Pinanga subterranea, which means ‘underground’ in Latin. Where was the plant found? The plant and its fruit are native to the tropical island of Borneo in Southeast Asia where it is well-known to locals, some of whom even consume the bright-red fruit which is said to be sweet and juicy. However, P.subterranea was overlooked by scientists for years now, who have found some 300 different species of palm on the island. The plant is known in at least three Bornean languages under the names, Pinang Tanah, Pinang Pipit, Muring Pelandok, and Tudong Pelandok, by the locals. The international team of researchers said that the plant can be found across the primary rainforests of western Borneo and scattered across the borders from Malaysia’s Sarawak to Indonesia’s Kalimantan. Need for collaboration According to researchers, the plant was hiding in plain sight and has been overlooked by the scientific community for years now. “Without the tip-off from our Malaysian colleague Dr Paul Chai, we probably would have mistaken this exciting new species for an unremarkable palm seedling and would have walked right past it,” said Dr Benedikt Kuhnhäuser a future leader fellow at RGB, Kew, who was also a part of the research team. He added, “Instead, we have scientifically described an incredibly rare case of geoflory that is underground flowering, and the very first known example of its kind in the entire palm family. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.” What makes the plant so unique? While a majority of flowering plants have evolved to develop their flowers and fruit above ground since it helps with pollination and the dispersal of seeds, there is a small subset of plants that have evolved to carry out this process underground. Therefore, P.subterranea not only joins the more than 2,500 species of palm (that the scientists know about so far) but also at least 171 species across 89 genera and 33 plant families, which are known to flower and fruit underground through the process of geoflory and geocarpy, respectively. However, P. subterranea is a case of a dual instance of geocarpy and geoflory, which has been all the more baffling for the researchers since the Pinanga genus is typically pollinated by insects and cannot move around as easily below ground as above. The international team of scientists found a high number of seeds and fruit set by the plant which indicates that there has been a successful pollination mechanism which remains unknown to the researchers. “I have been studying palms for 30 years and am amazed at how they continue to surprise us,” said Dr William Baker, senior research leader at Tree of Life at RBG Kew. He added, “This unexpected find poses many more questions than it answers. What is pollinating the palm? How does the pollinator find the flowers underground? How did this phenomenon evolve and what on Earth will palms surprise us with next?” Not the first discovery It is also worth noting that while the recent team of international scientists collected specimens and ascertained that the species was new to science, Agusti Randi, an Indonesian researcher from the National University of Singapore and lead author of the study conducted had also encountered a couple of specimens of the palm back in 2017. According to Randi’s study, at least one of the samples collected appeared to have been dug up by wild pigs while others were most likely eaten or crushed by the animals. “The first time I encountered this dwarf palm in 2017 in a forest in West Kalimantan, a group of wild boars were digging in the soil around a population of P. subterranea, and I found several ripe fruit with a striking, bright red colour lying on the ground,” said the lead author about the findings. He also spoke about how he noticed that the stems of the palm were dug up by the wild boars to find the fruit which was underground. “Their faeces were also strewn around in puddles with the seeds contained in them,” said Randi. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

‘Once-in-a-lifetime discovery’: Scientists find rare palm that flowers and bears fruits underground

<p>As per a comprehensive review of global energy data conducted by the Energy Institute, greenhouse gas emissions from the energy industry reached new highs in 2022, despite record growth in wind and solar power.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Fossil fuel consumption in 2022</strong></h2>

<p>The report by the Energy Institute was published in partnership with KPMG and the consultancy Kearney. It revealed that fossil fuels accounted for 82 per cent of the world's total energy consumption and that this caused a 0.8 per cent spike in greenhouse gas emissions as overall energy usage rose.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the report, the continued growth in global energy consumption is expected to increase further, which it says could result in higher emissions following the lifting of Covid travel restrictions in China.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-coast-guard-investigation-to-recover-titan-submersible-debris-to-lookout-for-human-remains-608749">US Coast Guard launches investigation to recover Titan submersible debris, to lookout for human remains</a></strong></p>

<p>Energy Institute's president Juliet Davenport said that "Despite further strong growth in wind and solar in the power sector, overall global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions increased again. We are still heading in the opposite direction to that required by the Paris agreement."</p>

<h2><strong>Increased demand for non-renewable energy sources</strong></h2>

<p>Global oil demand rose by 2.9 million barrels per day in 2022, reaching an average of 97.3 million bpd, driven in part by the resumption of global economic activity after the Covid pandemic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Coal demand also increased by 0.6 per cent, driven by India and China, reaching levels not seen since 2014.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Renewable energy</strong></h2>

<p>Although renewable energy sources, excluding hydropower, met 7.5 per cent of the world's energy demand in 2022 — which is a 1 per cent increase from the previous year — the rise was overshadowed by a modest 1.1 increase in global energy consumption. This led to a greater reliance on oil and coal to meet the demand.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2022, solar energy output increased by 25 per cent. Compared to the previous year, wind power output also grew by 13.5 per cent.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/texas-airport-worker-dies-after-being-sucked-into-plane-engine-investigation-underway-608687">US: Airport worker dies after being sucked into plane engine; investigation underway</a></strong></p>

<p>Simon Virley, the head of energy and natural resources at KPMG, emphasised that despite the growth in renewables, the share of energy derived from fossil fuels remains struck at 82 per cent.</p>

<p>"Despite record growth in renewables, the share of world energy still coming from fossil fuels remains stubbornly stuck at 82 per cent, which should act as a clarion call for governments to inject more urgency into the energy transition."</p>

<h2><strong>Paris climate targets</strong></h2>

<p>The report warns that without urgent action, high energy-related emissions could undermine the goals of the Paris climate agreement, which aims to reduce emissions by half by the end of the decade to prevent severe global heating.</p>

<p>The Energy Institute's report highlights the importance of urgent action by global governments to align with the Paris targets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Richard Forrest, the head of global sustainability at Kearney, said that the rise in greenhouse gas emissions reinforced the need for "urgent action to get the world on track to meet the Paris targets". He remarked that the need to deliver clean, affordable and secure energy "has never been greater".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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As per a comprehensive review of global energy data conducted by the Energy Institute, greenhouse gas emissions from the energy industry reached new highs in 2022, despite record growth in wind and solar power.

As per a comprehensive review of global energy data conducted by the Energy Institute, greenhouse gas emissions from the energy industry reached new highs in 2022, despite record growth in wind and solar power. Fossil fuel consumption in 2022 The report by the Energy Institute was published in partnership with KPMG and the consultancy Kearney. It revealed that fossil fuels accounted for 82 per cent of the world's total energy consumption and that this caused a 0.8 per cent spike in greenhouse gas emissions as overall energy usage rose. As per the report, the continued growth in global energy consumption is expected to increase further, which it says could result in higher emissions following the lifting of Covid travel restrictions in China. Also read | US Coast Guard launches investigation to recover Titan submersible debris, to lookout for human remains Energy Institute's president Juliet Davenport said that "Despite further strong growth in wind and solar in the power sector, overall global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions increased again. We are still heading in the opposite direction to that required by the Paris agreement." Increased demand for non-renewable energy sources Global oil demand rose by 2.9 million barrels per day in 2022, reaching an average of 97.3 million bpd, driven in part by the resumption of global economic activity after the Covid pandemic. Coal demand also increased by 0.6 per cent, driven by India and China, reaching levels not seen since 2014. Renewable energy Although renewable energy sources, excluding hydropower, met 7.5 per cent of the world's energy demand in 2022 — which is a 1 per cent increase from the previous year — the rise was overshadowed by a modest 1.1 increase in global energy consumption. This led to a greater reliance on oil and coal to meet the demand. In 2022, solar energy output increased by 25 per cent. Compared to the previous year, wind power output also grew by 13.5 per cent. Also read | US: Airport worker dies after being sucked into plane engine; investigation underway Simon Virley, the head of energy and natural resources at KPMG, emphasised that despite the growth in renewables, the share of energy derived from fossil fuels remains struck at 82 per cent. "Despite record growth in renewables, the share of world energy still coming from fossil fuels remains stubbornly stuck at 82 per cent, which should act as a clarion call for governments to inject more urgency into the energy transition." Paris climate targets The report warns that without urgent action, high energy-related emissions could undermine the goals of the Paris climate agreement, which aims to reduce emissions by half by the end of the decade to prevent severe global heating. The Energy Institute's report highlights the importance of urgent action by global governments to align with the Paris targets. Richard Forrest, the head of global sustainability at Kearney, said that the rise in greenhouse gas emissions reinforced the need for "urgent action to get the world on track to meet the Paris targets". He remarked that the need to deliver clean, affordable and secure energy "has never been greater". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Global greenhouse gas emissions hit new highs in 2022 despite growth in renewables: Report

<p>Researchers have proposed a unique way to identify individuals at risk of stroke by incorporating electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors into the handles of supermarket trolleys, as per media reports. Atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition characterised by irregular heart rhythms, affects approximately 1 in 45 people in the UK and can significantly increase the risk of stroke. Early detection of AF is crucial as treatments are available.</p>

<p>By utilising the sensor-equipped trolleys, researchers aim to screen adults for abnormal heart rhythms while they shop, potentially saving lives.</p>

<h2><strong>Trial and results</strong></h2>

<p>The trial was conducted over three months at four Sainsbury's supermarkets, involving 2,155 adult participants. The individuals were instructed to hold the trolley handle for at least 60 seconds. If the sensors detected signs of AF, a red cross would appear on the handle, while a green tick indicated no abnormal rhythms.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-lambasts-us-envoy-as-bidens-dictator-remark-about-xi-sparks-controversy-607820">China lambasts US envoy as Biden's 'dictator' remark about Xi sparks controversy</a></p>

<p>Additionally, all participants underwent a pulse check as an additional screening measure. The results, presented at Acnap 2023, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology, revealed that out of the 220 participants who consented to data analysis and were flagged as potentially having AF, 59 were diagnosed with the condition. Remarkably, 39 of those individuals were previously unaware of their condition and were subsequently contacted for further cardiology appointments.</p>

<h2><strong>Accuracy</strong></h2>

<p>The research team acknowledged the need for further improvements in accuracy. Approximately 20 per cent&nbsp;of the 220 ECGs were inconclusive, mainly due to hand movements interfering with the readings. While the approach correctly identified individuals with AF between 70 per cent and 93 per cent of the time, it was less effective at detecting those without the condition.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-combat-ship-to-make-rare-port-call-in-vietnam-amid-south-china-sea-tensions-607798">US combat ship to make rare port call in Vietnam amid South China Sea tensions</a></p>

<p>Overall, the team estimated that only a quarter to half of those flagged as having AF actually had the condition upon further review.</p>

<h2><strong>Expert opinions</strong></h2>

<p>Prof Ian Jones from Liverpool John Moores University, one of the study's authors, challenged the notion that certain communities were hard to reach, emphasising the increased accessibility provided by this health screening approach.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Indian PM Modi and US President Biden stress democracy, minority rights in joint press conference</strong></p>

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<p>However, the researchers acknowledged the need for further work to address the limitations of the method. Prof Jonathan Mant from the University of Cambridge expressed his appreciation for the innovative supermarket trolley approach but cautioned against potential risks. He highlighted the high number of inconclusive ECGs and the possibility of diagnosing occasional heart-rhythm irregularities as AF due to frequent trolley use. The timely attention required by medical professionals to confirm the diagnosis could place an additional burden on the healthcare system.</p>

<h2><strong>Future potential</strong></h2>

<p>Despite the need for cautious assessment of flagged individuals, Prof Robert Storey from the University of Sheffield welcomed the research. He noted that while wearable devices for AF detection have gained significant attention, many people lack access to such gadgets.</p>

<p>Thus, the concept of using shop trolleys for heart rhythm monitoring holds promise. The study's results demonstrated the detection of a substantial number of previously undiagnosed AF cases, potentially preventing strokes among these individuals.&nbsp;</p>

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Researchers have proposed a unique way to identify individuals at risk of stroke by incorporating electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors into the handles of supermarket trolleys, as per media reports.

Researchers have proposed a unique way to identify individuals at risk of stroke by incorporating electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors into the handles of supermarket trolleys, as per media reports. Atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition characterised by irregular heart rhythms, affects approximately 1 in 45 people in the UK and can significantly increase the risk of stroke. Early detection of AF is crucial as treatments are available. By utilising the sensor-equipped trolleys, researchers aim to screen adults for abnormal heart rhythms while they shop, potentially saving lives. Trial and results The trial was conducted over three months at four Sainsbury's supermarkets, involving 2,155 adult participants. The individuals were instructed to hold the trolley handle for at least 60 seconds. If the sensors detected signs of AF, a red cross would appear on the handle, while a green tick indicated no abnormal rhythms. Also Read | China lambasts US envoy as Biden's 'dictator' remark about Xi sparks controversy Additionally, all participants underwent a pulse check as an additional screening measure. The results, presented at Acnap 2023, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology, revealed that out of the 220 participants who consented to data analysis and were flagged as potentially having AF, 59 were diagnosed with the condition. Remarkably, 39 of those individuals were previously unaware of their condition and were subsequently contacted for further cardiology appointments. Accuracy The research team acknowledged the need for further improvements in accuracy. Approximately 20 per cent of the 220 ECGs were inconclusive, mainly due to hand movements interfering with the readings. While the approach correctly identified individuals with AF between 70 per cent and 93 per cent of the time, it was less effective at detecting those without the condition. Also Read | US combat ship to make rare port call in Vietnam amid South China Sea tensions Overall, the team estimated that only a quarter to half of those flagged as having AF actually had the condition upon further review. Expert opinions Prof Ian Jones from Liverpool John Moores University, one of the study's authors, challenged the notion that certain communities were hard to reach, emphasising the increased accessibility provided by this health screening approach. Watch | Indian PM Modi and US President Biden stress democracy, minority rights in joint press conference × However, the researchers acknowledged the need for further work to address the limitations of the method. Prof Jonathan Mant from the University of Cambridge expressed his appreciation for the innovative supermarket trolley approach but cautioned against potential risks. He highlighted the high number of inconclusive ECGs and the possibility of diagnosing occasional heart-rhythm irregularities as AF due to frequent trolley use. The timely attention required by medical professionals to confirm the diagnosis could place an additional burden on the healthcare system. Future potential Despite the need for cautious assessment of flagged individuals, Prof Robert Storey from the University of Sheffield welcomed the research. He noted that while wearable devices for AF detection have gained significant attention, many people lack access to such gadgets. Thus, the concept of using shop trolleys for heart rhythm monitoring holds promise. The study's results demonstrated the detection of a substantial number of previously undiagnosed AF cases, potentially preventing strokes among these individuals. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Supermarket trolleys equipped with sensors can identify stroke risk, say scientists

<p>Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to push the boundaries of what was once thought impossible. Its remarkable prediction capabilities have captured widespread attention. From predicting stock market trends to diagnosing diseases, the technology has demonstrated an uncanny ability to analyse vast amounts of data and make accurate forecasts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Now, new research conducted by a team of researchers from Denmark and Sweden suggests that artificial intelligence may be able to predict a person's political views based on their appearance, posing potential privacy concerns.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Study findings</strong></h2>

<p>The study found that the AI model accurately predicted the political affiliations of people in around 61 per cent of cases.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the research published in the journal Nature, variations in facial expressions were linked to political views. The model concluded that, due to their smiles, "both male and female right-wing composites appeared happier than their left-wing counterparts",&nbsp;while liberal candidates displayed more neutral expressions.</p>

<p>Women who exhibited a facial expression of contempt — neutral eyes and one corner of the lips lifted — were associated with more liberal politics by the model.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/previously-undocumented-effect-of-ivf-uncovered-helps-1-in-5-women-conceive-naturally-second-time-around-606828">Previously undocumented effect of IVF uncovered; helps 1-in-5 women conceive naturally second time around</a></strong></p>

<p>The researchers also observed a correlation between a candidate's level of attractiveness and their political ideology.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per Business Insider, women deemed attractive by their beauty scores were predicted to have conservative views, although there was no similar correlation found between men's attractiveness and right-wing leanings.</p>

<p>"Politicians on the right have been found to be more attractive than those on the&nbsp;left," states the study.</p>

<h2><strong>What data set was used?</strong></h2>

<p>The study aimed to demonstrate the privacy threat resulting from the combination of deep learning techniques and easily accessible photographs. For this purpose, the researchers used a dataset of 3,233 images of Danish political candidates and employed facial recognition and predictive analytics to assess facial expressions and attractiveness scores.</p>

<h2><strong>How is this ability a threat?</strong></h2>

<p>The findings raise concerns about how AI can perpetuate stereotypes and biases. AI models trained on preconceived notions of beauty standards and gender can reinforce existing stereotypes, potentially leading to biased outcomes in various domains, including hiring decisions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explained-lab-grown-human-embryos-ethical-conundrums-and-emerging-frontiers-606451">Explained | Lab-grown human embryos: Ethical conundrums and emerging frontiers</a></strong></p>

<p>"Facial photographs are commonly available to potential employers, and those involved in hiring decisions self-declare a willingness to discriminate based on ideology. Members of the public may thus be aided by recognising what elements of their photographs could affect their chances of employment," write the researchers.&nbsp;The study's results also shed light on the implications of advanced technologies, such as AI, in reinforcing perceptions about specific demographics.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to push the boundaries of what was once thought impossible. Its remarkable prediction capabilities have captured widespread attention.

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to push the boundaries of what was once thought impossible. Its remarkable prediction capabilities have captured widespread attention. From predicting stock market trends to diagnosing diseases, the technology has demonstrated an uncanny ability to analyse vast amounts of data and make accurate forecasts. Now, new research conducted by a team of researchers from Denmark and Sweden suggests that artificial intelligence may be able to predict a person's political views based on their appearance, posing potential privacy concerns. Study findings The study found that the AI model accurately predicted the political affiliations of people in around 61 per cent of cases. As per the research published in the journal Nature, variations in facial expressions were linked to political views. The model concluded that, due to their smiles, "both male and female right-wing composites appeared happier than their left-wing counterparts", while liberal candidates displayed more neutral expressions. Women who exhibited a facial expression of contempt — neutral eyes and one corner of the lips lifted — were associated with more liberal politics by the model. Also read | Previously undocumented effect of IVF uncovered; helps 1-in-5 women conceive naturally second time around The researchers also observed a correlation between a candidate's level of attractiveness and their political ideology. As per Business Insider, women deemed attractive by their beauty scores were predicted to have conservative views, although there was no similar correlation found between men's attractiveness and right-wing leanings. "Politicians on the right have been found to be more attractive than those on the left," states the study. What data set was used? The study aimed to demonstrate the privacy threat resulting from the combination of deep learning techniques and easily accessible photographs. For this purpose, the researchers used a dataset of 3,233 images of Danish political candidates and employed facial recognition and predictive analytics to assess facial expressions and attractiveness scores. How is this ability a threat? The findings raise concerns about how AI can perpetuate stereotypes and biases. AI models trained on preconceived notions of beauty standards and gender can reinforce existing stereotypes, potentially leading to biased outcomes in various domains, including hiring decisions. Also read | Explained | Lab-grown human embryos: Ethical conundrums and emerging frontiers "Facial photographs are commonly available to potential employers, and those involved in hiring decisions self-declare a willingness to discriminate based on ideology. Members of the public may thus be aided by recognising what elements of their photographs could affect their chances of employment," write the researchers. The study's results also shed light on the implications of advanced technologies, such as AI, in reinforcing perceptions about specific demographics. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Research suggests AI can predict political views based on facial analysis, raising privacy concerns

<p>Every year, around the world, thousands of people undergo fertility treatments to have children. Now, a new study has concluded that one in five women who undergo such treatments are likely to conceive their second child naturally soon after.</p>

<h2><strong>The study's findings</strong></h2>

<p>University College London's study as per News Medical is the first of its kind. It analysed data from 11 studies that consisted of over 5,000 women worldwide. Data from between the years 1980 and 2021 was used to calculate how common it is for women to naturally fall pregnant after having conceived a baby via fertility treatment.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/short-power-naps-during-day-help-the-brain-as-it-ages-study-606572">Short power naps during day help the brain as it ages: Study</a></strong></p>

<p>It found that at least one in five women or about 20 per cent conceived naturally after fertility treatments. Most women reported a natural pregnancy within three years of the treatment which in most cases was in vitro fertilisation (IVF).</p>

<p>As per the News Medical report, even after taking into account the different types and outcomes of fertility and the length of the follow-up, this one-in-five figure remained unchanged in most cases.</p>

<h2><strong>What is infertility and who opts for fertility treatment?</strong></h2>

<p>As per the study, infertility is defined as a failure to conceive even after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Estimates show that at least one in seven heterosexual couples suffer from infertility.</p>

<p>However, as per the study, "it is important to recognise that women seeking and undergoing fertility treatment are not absolutely nor permanently infertile. Over 80 per cent of couples in the general population will conceive naturally within one year; of those who do not conceive in the first year, about half will go on to do so in the second year."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explained-lab-grown-human-embryos-ethical-conundrums-and-emerging-frontiers-606451">Explained | Lab-grown human embryos: Ethical conundrums and emerging frontiers</a></strong></p>

<p>It is not just infertile heterosexual couples that opt for fertility treatments. Single women, homosexual couples, surrogates etc., also undergo fertility treatments.</p>

<p>People undergo IVF for a "wide range of causes, including ovulatory disorders, tubal factors, uterine factors, male factors, joint subfertility, and unexplained subfertility."</p>

<h2><strong>'Far from rare' occurrence</strong></h2>

<p>BBC reports that University College London's Dr Annette Thwaites, lead author of the study, said that their findings suggest that "natural pregnancy after having a baby by IVF is far from rare."</p>

<p>As per Thwaites, their findings are in "contrast with widely held views - by women and health professionals - and those commonly expressed in the media, that it is a highly unlikely event."</p>

<p>Clinical Embryologist Dr Marta Jansa Perez, of the British Fertility Society, remarked that "this study highlights the importance of giving patients accurate information about their chances of conception at any point, in particular after giving birth to an IVF baby."</p>

<p>"It is good news that such a high proportion of patients can conceive naturally after IVF, but people should be aware that in cases where the age of the woman is a factor for the initial failure to conceive or there is severe male factor infertility, it would be advisable to seek treatment for a second child sooner rather than later."<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Every year, around the world, thousands of people undergo fertility treatments to have children. Now, a new study has concluded that one in five women who undergo such treatments are likely to conceive their second child naturally soon after.

Every year, around the world, thousands of people undergo fertility treatments to have children. Now, a new study has concluded that one in five women who undergo such treatments are likely to conceive their second child naturally soon after. The study's findings University College London's study as per News Medical is the first of its kind. It analysed data from 11 studies that consisted of over 5,000 women worldwide. Data from between the years 1980 and 2021 was used to calculate how common it is for women to naturally fall pregnant after having conceived a baby via fertility treatment. Also read | Short power naps during day help the brain as it ages: Study It found that at least one in five women or about 20 per cent conceived naturally after fertility treatments. Most women reported a natural pregnancy within three years of the treatment which in most cases was in vitro fertilisation (IVF). As per the News Medical report, even after taking into account the different types and outcomes of fertility and the length of the follow-up, this one-in-five figure remained unchanged in most cases. What is infertility and who opts for fertility treatment? As per the study, infertility is defined as a failure to conceive even after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex. Estimates show that at least one in seven heterosexual couples suffer from infertility. However, as per the study, "it is important to recognise that women seeking and undergoing fertility treatment are not absolutely nor permanently infertile. Over 80 per cent of couples in the general population will conceive naturally within one year; of those who do not conceive in the first year, about half will go on to do so in the second year." Also read | Explained | Lab-grown human embryos: Ethical conundrums and emerging frontiers It is not just infertile heterosexual couples that opt for fertility treatments. Single women, homosexual couples, surrogates etc., also undergo fertility treatments. People undergo IVF for a "wide range of causes, including ovulatory disorders, tubal factors, uterine factors, male factors, joint subfertility, and unexplained subfertility." 'Far from rare' occurrence BBC reports that University College London's Dr Annette Thwaites, lead author of the study, said that their findings suggest that "natural pregnancy after having a baby by IVF is far from rare." As per Thwaites, their findings are in "contrast with widely held views - by women and health professionals - and those commonly expressed in the media, that it is a highly unlikely event." Clinical Embryologist Dr Marta Jansa Perez, of the British Fertility Society, remarked that "this study highlights the importance of giving patients accurate information about their chances of conception at any point, in particular after giving birth to an IVF baby." "It is good news that such a high proportion of patients can conceive naturally after IVF, but people should be aware that in cases where the age of the woman is a factor for the initial failure to conceive or there is severe male factor infertility, it would be advisable to seek treatment for a second child sooner rather than later."

Previously undocumented effect of IVF uncovered; helps 1-in-5 women conceive naturally second time around

<p>Scientists have used stem cells to create lab-grown structures resembling human embryos. While it marks a groundbreaking achievement in the field, this development has sparked discussions regarding the need for stricter regulations in this rapidly advancing area of research.</p>

<p>Here's all you need to know</p>

<h2><strong>Artificial human embryos</strong></h2>

<p>AFP reports that over the past week, multiple research laboratories worldwide have released pre-print studies outlining their research.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The laboratories used various methods to stimulate human embryonic stem cells — which possess the capability to 'self-assemble into any cell type — to spontaneously organise themselves into a structure resembling an embryo. Remarkably, this process occurred without the requirement of sperm, an egg, or even fertilisation.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/researchers-reconstruct-face-of-16-year-old-woman-who-died-1300-years-ago-606298">Researchers reconstruct face of 16-year-old woman who died 1,300 years ago</a></strong></p>

<p>However, experts have cautioned that these findings have not yet undergone peer review and should be approached with caution.</p>

<h2><strong>Why create artificial embryos?</strong></h2>

<p>The primary objective of this research is to provide scientists with a model that enables the study of human embryos in ways that were previously unattainable due to ethical concerns.&nbsp;</p>

<p>By doing so, scientists as per AFP, hope to gain new insights into the origins of birth defects, genetic disorders, infertility, and other pregnancy-related issues.</p>

<h2><strong>Who is behind this research?</strong></h2>

<p>As mentioned previously, multiple institutes using many techniques have come up with such groundbreaking research.</p>

<p>The initial announcement came from Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, a researcher from Cambridge University and the California Institute of Technology, during the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research in Boston, reports news agency AFP.</p>

<p>Shortly after, on Thursday, Jacob Hanna's team at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel published their own pre-print study detailing their work on stem cell-based human embryo models.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the French news agency, another team, Zernicka-Goetz, then released their own pre-print publication.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-cause-of-morning-sickness-in-pregnant-women-605503">Scientists find cause of 'morning sickness' in pregnant women</a></strong></p>

<p>Following this, labs in China and the United States have also shared their pre-print studies later in the past seven days.</p>

<p>The influx of data has shed light on the highly competitive nature of research in this particular field.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In August 2022, both the Zernicka-Goetz and Hanna teams independently published papers detailing their creation of embryo-like structures using mouse stem cells. Talking to AFP, both teams confirmed that their new studies had been accepted by prestigious peer-reviewed journals and that they had presented their findings at conferences months prior to the recent media coverage.</p>

<h2><strong>Which research is more advanced?</strong></h2>

<p>Jacob Hanna dismissed the notion that either team was the "first," and said that they had achieved distinct accomplishments. However, talking to AFP, he highlighted that his models possessed features such as a "placenta, a yolk sac, amniotic cavity" which he claimed were absent in the structures developed by the Zernicka-Goetz team.</p>

<p>Other researchers concurred that Hanna's models were more advanced, praising his team for employing only chemical modifications rather than genetic modifications to induce the formation of embryo-like structures.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A researcher from Germany's Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics described the similarity between Hanna's model and a natural embryo as "remarkable, almost uncanny."</p>

<h2><strong>Inside the 'black box'</strong></h2>

<p>The labs of team Zernicka-Goetz and Hanna conducted their experiments for a maximum of 14 days, adhering to the legal limit for growing human embryos in laboratories in many countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This limit exists because, after 14 days, embryos initiate the cellular organisation required for organ development, including the brain. This stage, referred to as the "black box",&nbsp;remains largely unexplored in human embryos.</p>

<p>Regulations governing research in this area vary between countries, primarily applying to fertilised embryos. Thus, the new embryo-like models exploit a legal loophole as they are not derived from fertilisation.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Calls for regulations</strong></h2>

<p>Darius Widera, an expert in stem cell biology at the University of Reading, advises against premature comparisons between the studies. Despite that, he reportedly acknowledged "the impact of both studies is immense" and emphasises the necessity of developing new guidelines for this rapidly progressing technology.</p>

<p>"We should try to avoid unhealthy hype since this technology is at an early stage -- but already, new guidelines are going to be needed," said Widera.</p>

<p>On Friday, Cambridge University also announced that it has launched a project aimed at developing the first governance framework for stem cell-based human embryo models in the UK.</p>

<p>James Briscoe from Britain's Francis Crick Institute advises researchers to proceed with caution, transparency, and care. He warned that the "danger is that missteps or unjustified claims will have a chilling effect on the public and policymakers, this would be a major setback for the field."</p>

<h2><strong>Can these lab-made&nbsp;embryos be used to make babies?</strong></h2>

<p>Scientists involved in the research emphasise that they do not intend to implant embryo models into human wombs. Furthermore, they say that even if such implantation were to occur, it would not result in a viable pregnancy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Widera, previous research involving the implantation of an embryo model into a female macaque did exhibit some signs of pregnancy but did not survive.</p>

<h2><strong>Scientists on reservations about the research</strong></h2>

<p>Some researchers have expressed their reservations about media reports referring to these cell clusters as "synthetic embryos".</p>

<p>They argue that these embryos do not meet the criteria of being purely synthetic or actual embryos due to their origin from stem cells.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Scientists have used stem cells to create lab-grown structures resembling human embryos. While it marks a groundbreaking achievement in the field, this development has sparked discussions regarding the need for stricter regulations in this rapidly advancing area of research.

Scientists have used stem cells to create lab-grown structures resembling human embryos. While it marks a groundbreaking achievement in the field, this development has sparked discussions regarding the need for stricter regulations in this rapidly advancing area of research. Here's all you need to know Artificial human embryos AFP reports that over the past week, multiple research laboratories worldwide have released pre-print studies outlining their research. The laboratories used various methods to stimulate human embryonic stem cells — which possess the capability to 'self-assemble into any cell type — to spontaneously organise themselves into a structure resembling an embryo. Remarkably, this process occurred without the requirement of sperm, an egg, or even fertilisation. Also read | Researchers reconstruct face of 16-year-old woman who died 1,300 years ago However, experts have cautioned that these findings have not yet undergone peer review and should be approached with caution. Why create artificial embryos? The primary objective of this research is to provide scientists with a model that enables the study of human embryos in ways that were previously unattainable due to ethical concerns. By doing so, scientists as per AFP, hope to gain new insights into the origins of birth defects, genetic disorders, infertility, and other pregnancy-related issues. Who is behind this research? As mentioned previously, multiple institutes using many techniques have come up with such groundbreaking research. The initial announcement came from Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, a researcher from Cambridge University and the California Institute of Technology, during the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research in Boston, reports news agency AFP. Shortly after, on Thursday, Jacob Hanna's team at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel published their own pre-print study detailing their work on stem cell-based human embryo models. As per the French news agency, another team, Zernicka-Goetz, then released their own pre-print publication. Also read | Scientists find cause of 'morning sickness' in pregnant women Following this, labs in China and the United States have also shared their pre-print studies later in the past seven days. The influx of data has shed light on the highly competitive nature of research in this particular field. In August 2022, both the Zernicka-Goetz and Hanna teams independently published papers detailing their creation of embryo-like structures using mouse stem cells. Talking to AFP, both teams confirmed that their new studies had been accepted by prestigious peer-reviewed journals and that they had presented their findings at conferences months prior to the recent media coverage. Which research is more advanced? Jacob Hanna dismissed the notion that either team was the "first," and said that they had achieved distinct accomplishments. However, talking to AFP, he highlighted that his models possessed features such as a "placenta, a yolk sac, amniotic cavity" which he claimed were absent in the structures developed by the Zernicka-Goetz team. Other researchers concurred that Hanna's models were more advanced, praising his team for employing only chemical modifications rather than genetic modifications to induce the formation of embryo-like structures. A researcher from Germany's Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics described the similarity between Hanna's model and a natural embryo as "remarkable, almost uncanny." Inside the 'black box' The labs of team Zernicka-Goetz and Hanna conducted their experiments for a maximum of 14 days, adhering to the legal limit for growing human embryos in laboratories in many countries. This limit exists because, after 14 days, embryos initiate the cellular organisation required for organ development, including the brain. This stage, referred to as the "black box", remains largely unexplored in human embryos. Regulations governing research in this area vary between countries, primarily applying to fertilised embryos. Thus, the new embryo-like models exploit a legal loophole as they are not derived from fertilisation. Calls for regulations Darius Widera, an expert in stem cell biology at the University of Reading, advises against premature comparisons between the studies. Despite that, he reportedly acknowledged "the impact of both studies is immense" and emphasises the necessity of developing new guidelines for this rapidly progressing technology. "We should try to avoid unhealthy hype since this technology is at an early stage -- but already, new guidelines are going to be needed," said Widera. On Friday, Cambridge University also announced that it has launched a project aimed at developing the first governance framework for stem cell-based human embryo models in the UK. James Briscoe from Britain's Francis Crick Institute advises researchers to proceed with caution, transparency, and care. He warned that the "danger is that missteps or unjustified claims will have a chilling effect on the public and policymakers, this would be a major setback for the field." Can these lab-made embryos be used to make babies? Scientists involved in the research emphasise that they do not intend to implant embryo models into human wombs. Furthermore, they say that even if such implantation were to occur, it would not result in a viable pregnancy. According to Widera, previous research involving the implantation of an embryo model into a female macaque did exhibit some signs of pregnancy but did not survive. Scientists on reservations about the research Some researchers have expressed their reservations about media reports referring to these cell clusters as "synthetic embryos". They argue that these embryos do not meet the criteria of being purely synthetic or actual embryos due to their origin from stem cells. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Lab-grown human embryos: Ethical conundrums and emerging frontiers

<p>A major study that spanned 37 years from beginning to end has found something concerning about people who tend to stay up late. These night owls are more likely to die at a younger age but from causes related to smoking and alcohol consumption rather than how late they go to bed.</p>

<p>Around 42.9 per cent of the 22,976 Finnish adult twins whose data was analysed for the study described themselves as "evening types" or "somewhat evening types." Our propensity to desire to sleep or be active at particular times is formally known as our chronotype.</p>

<p>As per earlier research, night owls are more likely to die young and have a propensity towards risky behaviour. This study indicates that a higher likelihood of dying sooner may not be directly related to chronotype but rather to what it leads to.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our findings suggest that there is little or no independent contribution of chronotype to mortality,"&nbsp;Christer Hublin, a researcher at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health told Science Alert.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Instead, "the increased risk of mortality associated with being a clearly 'evening' person appears to be mainly accounted for by a larger consumption of tobacco and alcohol. This is in comparison&nbsp;to those who are clearly 'morning' persons."</p>

<p>The researchers followed up in 2018, looking at death rates discovered through national registers, after identifying the chronotypes for the study participants in 1981. The analysis took into account each person's level of smoking and drinking as well as factors including their education, BMI, and sleeping patterns.</p>

<p>The researchers discovered that 8,728 of the individuals had passed away by 2018. The likelihood of dying from any cause was nine&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;higher in people who identified as definite (not "somewhat") evening types than in people who identified as definite morning types.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/days-on-earth-used-to-last-just-19-hours-but-how-scientists-have-the-answer-604905">Days on Earth used to last just 19 hours, but how? Scientists have the answer</a></p>

<p>However, among this group of night owls, non-smokers who also didn't drink much didn't have a higher chance of passing away for any reason. The researchers discovered that the additional deaths were caused by smoking and drinking, which can result in diseases linked to alcohol as well as alcohol poisoning.</p>

<p>Even if a poor sleep schedule does not always accompany an evening person, the two frequently go together. Impaired sleep has previously been connected to addictions, such as alcohol or nicotine, and it can cause a variety of mental and physical problems.</p>

<p>"There is a reciprocal relationship between the reward system and circadian system, and the level of alcohol and substance use correlates with the preference to stay up later at night,"&nbsp;the researchers wrote in the paper, reported Science Alert.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/for-first-time-global-temperature-breaches-15c-threshold-in-summer-605100">For first time, global temperature breaches 1.5C warming threshold in first half of June</a></p>

<p>The team did not detect any increase in the risk of cardiovascular-related death, in contrast to the earlier study that served as the inspiration for this one. However, there are some changes in the population sample utilised; in the earlier study, adults from the UK were used, and they were typically in better condition than the average adult from the UK population, whereas in the present study, the cohort's health was more in line with that of the general population.</p>

<p>As always, more thorough research,&nbsp;including a larger sample size and researchers from more nations will be helpful in illuminating this connection. However, it appears that there is a need to consider some of the lifestyle decisions that are more likely to occur as a result of those sleeping habits, in addition to our sleeping patterns.</p>

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A major study that spanned 37 years from beginning to end has found something concerning about people who tend to stay up late. These night owls are more likely to die at a younger age but from causes related to smoking and alcohol consumption rather than how late they go to bed.

A major study that spanned 37 years from beginning to end has found something concerning about people who tend to stay up late. These night owls are more likely to die at a younger age but from causes related to smoking and alcohol consumption rather than how late they go to bed. Around 42.9 per cent of the 22,976 Finnish adult twins whose data was analysed for the study described themselves as "evening types" or "somewhat evening types." Our propensity to desire to sleep or be active at particular times is formally known as our chronotype. As per earlier research, night owls are more likely to die young and have a propensity towards risky behaviour. This study indicates that a higher likelihood of dying sooner may not be directly related to chronotype but rather to what it leads to. "Our findings suggest that there is little or no independent contribution of chronotype to mortality," Christer Hublin, a researcher at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health told Science Alert. Instead, "the increased risk of mortality associated with being a clearly 'evening' person appears to be mainly accounted for by a larger consumption of tobacco and alcohol. This is in comparison to those who are clearly 'morning' persons." The researchers followed up in 2018, looking at death rates discovered through national registers, after identifying the chronotypes for the study participants in 1981. The analysis took into account each person's level of smoking and drinking as well as factors including their education, BMI, and sleeping patterns. The researchers discovered that 8,728 of the individuals had passed away by 2018. The likelihood of dying from any cause was nine per cent higher in people who identified as definite (not "somewhat") evening types than in people who identified as definite morning types. Also read | Days on Earth used to last just 19 hours, but how? Scientists have the answer However, among this group of night owls, non-smokers who also didn't drink much didn't have a higher chance of passing away for any reason. The researchers discovered that the additional deaths were caused by smoking and drinking, which can result in diseases linked to alcohol as well as alcohol poisoning. Even if a poor sleep schedule does not always accompany an evening person, the two frequently go together. Impaired sleep has previously been connected to addictions, such as alcohol or nicotine, and it can cause a variety of mental and physical problems. "There is a reciprocal relationship between the reward system and circadian system, and the level of alcohol and substance use correlates with the preference to stay up later at night," the researchers wrote in the paper, reported Science Alert. Also read | For first time, global temperature breaches 1.5C warming threshold in first half of June The team did not detect any increase in the risk of cardiovascular-related death, in contrast to the earlier study that served as the inspiration for this one. However, there are some changes in the population sample utilised; in the earlier study, adults from the UK were used, and they were typically in better condition than the average adult from the UK population, whereas in the present study, the cohort's health was more in line with that of the general population. As always, more thorough research, including a larger sample size and researchers from more nations will be helpful in illuminating this connection. However, it appears that there is a need to consider some of the lifestyle decisions that are more likely to occur as a result of those sleeping habits, in addition to our sleeping patterns. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Bad news for night owls: They may die sooner, but not due to lack of sleep

<p>Scientists in a study have found out that fruit flies who are raised in an environment surrounded by their dead fellow mates are more likely to have shorter spans of life than the others who were raised around living flies, reported Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The research could prove fruitful for humans too as the scientists explore ways how this study can be applied to people, who due to the nature of their&nbsp;jobs, are constantly surrounded by a mournful environment where they are close to the dead. Therefore, the conclusions of the study could be helpful for soldiers in conflict zones and healthcare workers.</p>

<h2><strong>What did the research include?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The research was headed by Christi Gendron and Scott Pletcher at the University of Michigan. For the study, the researchers brought up fruit flies in tiny containers filled with food.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-lg-reviews-amarnath-yatra-arrangements-in-pahalgam-over-60k-troops-to-be-deployed-for-security-604339">India: LG reviews Amarnath Yatra arrangements in Pahalgam, over 60k troops to be deployed for security</a></p>

<p>To understand how the flies will behave around the dead carcasses, the researchers kept living flies and tasty nutrients in one of the boxes, while in another container, they put freshly dead fruit flies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They then observed the behavioural changes that took place while feeding insects. The research outcomes suggest that the flies who were raised with their dead comrades died several weeks early in comparison to those who were raised without the sight of dead carcasses.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The biological changes</strong></h2>

<p>The study further mentioned the biological changes that took place in the insects during the research. Not only did the flies age&nbsp;at a faster pace, they also exhibited other changes, like losing stored fat.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shark-that-ate-russian-tourist-on-camera-to-be-mummified-put-on-display-604333">Shark that ate Russian tourist on camera to be mummified, put on display</a></p>

<p>This was viewed by the scientists as flies going through "depression" leading to the changes in their life span. As per the study, the ageing process in fruit flies surrounded by dead flies resulted in shortening up the lives of the flies by about 30 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Brain neurons&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The researchers also looked deep into the brain of the fruit flies to draw more substantial conclusions. As per their findings, there is a link between the neurons in the flies' brains and a protein secreted by them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As more and more neurons got active in the brain of the flies, there was more fluorescent protein these neurons produced. They found two types of neurons, namely R2 and R4. These neurons were seen to be activated in the brains of the flies who were surrounded by dead flies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Watch | UK Police seek motive for Nottingham murders, man arrested after police finds three dead</p>

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<p>Scientists did an interesting experiment to see what impact these neurons will have on the flies who were raised with living flies. When R2 and R4 were stimulated in healthy fruit flies it resulted in cutting short the life span of these flies.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Future research&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Authors in Plos Biology raised questions, “Could motivational therapy or pharmacologic intervention in reward systems, much like what is done for addiction, slow ageing?”</p>

<p>With the drugs which are already available and approved in the medical field, the research can be tested to see how can human beings benefit&nbsp;from these findings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In what sounds promising, this study can help find new treatments to slow ageing in humans. “Given our findings,” the authors write, “it seems plausible that the sight of dead conspecifics elucidates a “depressive-like” state that results in decreased longevity.”</p>

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Scientists in a study have found out that fruit flies who are raised in an environment surrounded by their dead fellow mates are more likely to have shorter spans of life than the others who were raised around living flies, reported Guardian.

Scientists in a study have found out that fruit flies who are raised in an environment surrounded by their dead fellow mates are more likely to have shorter spans of life than the others who were raised around living flies, reported Guardian. The research could prove fruitful for humans too as the scientists explore ways how this study can be applied to people, who due to the nature of their jobs, are constantly surrounded by a mournful environment where they are close to the dead. Therefore, the conclusions of the study could be helpful for soldiers in conflict zones and healthcare workers. What did the research include? The research was headed by Christi Gendron and Scott Pletcher at the University of Michigan. For the study, the researchers brought up fruit flies in tiny containers filled with food. Also Read | India: LG reviews Amarnath Yatra arrangements in Pahalgam, over 60k troops to be deployed for security To understand how the flies will behave around the dead carcasses, the researchers kept living flies and tasty nutrients in one of the boxes, while in another container, they put freshly dead fruit flies. They then observed the behavioural changes that took place while feeding insects. The research outcomes suggest that the flies who were raised with their dead comrades died several weeks early in comparison to those who were raised without the sight of dead carcasses. The biological changes The study further mentioned the biological changes that took place in the insects during the research. Not only did the flies age at a faster pace, they also exhibited other changes, like losing stored fat. Also Read | Shark that ate Russian tourist on camera to be mummified, put on display This was viewed by the scientists as flies going through "depression" leading to the changes in their life span. As per the study, the ageing process in fruit flies surrounded by dead flies resulted in shortening up the lives of the flies by about 30 per cent. Brain neurons The researchers also looked deep into the brain of the fruit flies to draw more substantial conclusions. As per their findings, there is a link between the neurons in the flies' brains and a protein secreted by them. As more and more neurons got active in the brain of the flies, there was more fluorescent protein these neurons produced. They found two types of neurons, namely R2 and R4. These neurons were seen to be activated in the brains of the flies who were surrounded by dead flies. Watch | UK Police seek motive for Nottingham murders, man arrested after police finds three dead × Scientists did an interesting experiment to see what impact these neurons will have on the flies who were raised with living flies. When R2 and R4 were stimulated in healthy fruit flies it resulted in cutting short the life span of these flies. Future research Authors in Plos Biology raised questions, “Could motivational therapy or pharmacologic intervention in reward systems, much like what is done for addiction, slow ageing?” With the drugs which are already available and approved in the medical field, the research can be tested to see how can human beings benefit from these findings. In what sounds promising, this study can help find new treatments to slow ageing in humans. “Given our findings,” the authors write, “it seems plausible that the sight of dead conspecifics elucidates a “depressive-like” state that results in decreased longevity.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Fruit flies age rapidly when they see their dead comrades: Study

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<p>For long, dropping peanuts in a pint of beer and waiting a few moments before it sinks and later comes out floating at the top has been a fun, little game among drinking circles. Though a neat party trick, scientists have finally uncovered the fascinating science behind it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a research study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, Luiz Pereira, the study's lead author states he first had the idea of solving the mystery when passing through Argentina's capital Buenos Aires to learn Spanish.</p>

<p>Pereira, who is a researcher at Germany’s Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, said it was a common 'bartender thing' in the city to drop a few peanuts into a beer glass and wait for them to pop back, much to the amusement of buzz-filled bar hoppers.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Peanuts are denser than beer</strong></h2>

<p>He said the phenomenon takes place because peanuts are denser than beer. It is one of the reasons why they sink down to the bottom of the glass when thrown in.</p>

<p>However, once down at the bottom, hundreds of tiny carbon dioxide bubbles form on the surface of the peanut, acting as buoys which drag them upwards with the characteristic pop sound as the bubble bursts. According to Pereira, each peanut, when down at the bottom, becomes what is called a "nucleation site".&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The bubbles prefer to form on the peanuts rather than on the glass walls,” explained Pereira.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/this-video-of-people-performing-yoga-while-drinking-beer-divides-internet-stst-600114" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | This video of people performing yoga while drinking beer divides internet</strong></a></p>

<p>The fascinating dance of peanuts going down and popping up continues until the carbon dioxide runs out of the glass, or better, someone gulps down that pint of beer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The researchers expanded the area&nbsp;of their experiments and examined how roasted and shelled peanuts fared in lager-style beer as well. They determined that larger the "contact angle" between the curve of an individual bubble and the surface of the peanut, the more likely it was to form and grow. However, the scientists added the caveat that it cannot grow too much and that a radius of under 1.3 millimetres was ideal.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/what-is-newbrew-a-beer-made-from-urine-493346"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;What is ‘NewBrew’? A beer made from urine</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Similar phenomenon at play in other areas</strong></h2>

<p>According to the experts, the science involved in the process was similar to the one used to separate iron from ore. Moreover, the same process can be used to explain why magnetite rises to higher layers in the crystallised magma of the Earth's crust.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Akin to peanut, magnetite is denser than magma and ideally should sit at the bottom. However, the greater contact angle means that the mineral rises through the magma with help from gas bubbles.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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For long, dropping peanuts in a pint of beer and waiting a few moments before it sinks and later comes out floating at the top has been a fun, little game among drinking circles.

For long, dropping peanuts in a pint of beer and waiting a few moments before it sinks and later comes out floating at the top has been a fun, little game among drinking circles. Though a neat party trick, scientists have finally uncovered the fascinating science behind it. In a research study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, Luiz Pereira, the study's lead author states he first had the idea of solving the mystery when passing through Argentina's capital Buenos Aires to learn Spanish. Pereira, who is a researcher at Germany’s Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, said it was a common 'bartender thing' in the city to drop a few peanuts into a beer glass and wait for them to pop back, much to the amusement of buzz-filled bar hoppers. Peanuts are denser than beer He said the phenomenon takes place because peanuts are denser than beer. It is one of the reasons why they sink down to the bottom of the glass when thrown in. However, once down at the bottom, hundreds of tiny carbon dioxide bubbles form on the surface of the peanut, acting as buoys which drag them upwards with the characteristic pop sound as the bubble bursts. According to Pereira, each peanut, when down at the bottom, becomes what is called a "nucleation site". “The bubbles prefer to form on the peanuts rather than on the glass walls,” explained Pereira. Also read | This video of people performing yoga while drinking beer divides internet The fascinating dance of peanuts going down and popping up continues until the carbon dioxide runs out of the glass, or better, someone gulps down that pint of beer. The researchers expanded the area of their experiments and examined how roasted and shelled peanuts fared in lager-style beer as well. They determined that larger the "contact angle" between the curve of an individual bubble and the surface of the peanut, the more likely it was to form and grow. However, the scientists added the caveat that it cannot grow too much and that a radius of under 1.3 millimetres was ideal. WATCH | What is ‘NewBrew’? A beer made from urine × Similar phenomenon at play in other areas According to the experts, the science involved in the process was similar to the one used to separate iron from ore. Moreover, the same process can be used to explain why magnetite rises to higher layers in the crystallised magma of the Earth's crust. Akin to peanut, magnetite is denser than magma and ideally should sit at the bottom. However, the greater contact angle means that the mineral rises through the magma with help from gas bubbles. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Know why peanuts sink and float when dropped in a pint of beer

<p>Doctors are held in high regard across the globe. Their hard work and drive to save the patients are&nbsp;the source of awe, and in some cultures, they are even revered as 'living' gods. However, not even they can predict a patient's chances of death. However, a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool developed by a team at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine claims to hold the capability to do just that.</p>

<p>As per a report by the news agency AFP, the AI-based tool has shown promising results in reading physicians' notes and accurately predicting patients' risk of death, readmission to the hospital, and other important outcomes related to their care.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>NYUTron</strong></h2>

<p>The software, known as NYUTron, is currently being used by NYU's affiliated hospitals in New York. The team behind this amazing tool hopes that one day it will become a standard component of healthcare practices.</p>

<p>A study published in the journal Nature highlights the predictive capabilities of this AI tool.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/ai-attempts-to-bring-dead-back-to-life-give-people-closure-601951">AI attempts to bring dead back to life, give people closure</a></strong></p>

<p>Talking to AFP, lead author Eric Oermann, a neurosurgeon and computer scientist at NYU, explained that while predictive models in medicine have existed for some time, they are not widely used due to the challenges of organising and formatting the required data.</p>

<p>However, the team realised that physicians consistently write detailed notes about their clinical observations and patient interactions. This, as per the team, can be a valuable source of data for building predictive models.</p>

<p>"One thing that's common in medicine everywhere, is physicians write notes about what they've seen in clinic, what they've discussed with patients," said Oermann.</p>

<p>"So our basic insight was, can we start with medical notes as our source of data, and then build predictive models on top of it?"</p>

<h2><strong>How did they achieve this feat?</strong></h2>

<p>NYUTron is basically a large language model. To train it, researchers used millions of clinical notes from the health records of 387,000 patients treated at NYU Langone hospitals between January 2011 and May 2020.</p>

<p>These notes encompassed various types of records written by doctors, including progress notes, radiology reports, and discharge instructions, resulting in a massive corpus of 4.1 billion words.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/ai-to-help-surgeons-pick-suitable-organs-for-transplants-will-help-perform-additional-300-transplants-a-year-567328">AI to pick suitable organs for transplants; help surgeons perform 300 more operations a year</a></strong></p>

<p>Using this data, the software made predictions which were then evaluated against real outcomes retrospectively.</p>

<p>One of the significant challenges the software faced was interpreting the diverse natural language used by physicians, which often includes unique abbreviations and variations.</p>

<h2><strong>The results?</strong></h2>

<p>Overall, NYUTron exhibited impressive performance, correctly identifying 95 per cent of patients who died in the hospital before discharge and predicting 80 per cent of patients who would be readmitted within 30 days.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Furthermore, NYUTron accurately estimated the actual length of stay for 79 per cent of patients, correctly identified 87 per cent of cases where insurance coverage was denied, and accurately recognized 89 per cent of cases where patients had additional conditions accompanying their primary disease.</p>

<p>It surpassed the predictions made by most doctors and outperformed non-AI computer models currently in use.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Can artificial intelligence&nbsp;replace doctors?</strong></h2>

<p>Interestingly, no. The tool was outperformed by the most experienced physician in the study, who achieved results exceeding the model's predictions.</p>

<p>As per Oermann, "the most senior physician who's actually a very famous physician, he had superhuman performance, better than the model."</p>

<p>Oermann emphasised that AI can never replace the physician-patient relationship. Instead, AI tools like NYUTron aim to "provide more information for physicians seamlessly at the point of care so they can make more informed decisions."&nbsp;He remarked that "the sweet spot for technology and medicine isn't that it's going to always deliver necessarily superhuman results, but it's going to really bring up that baseline."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Doctors are held in high regard across the globe. Their hard work and drive to save the patients are the source of awe, and in some cultures, they are even revered as 'living' gods.

Doctors are held in high regard across the globe. Their hard work and drive to save the patients are the source of awe, and in some cultures, they are even revered as 'living' gods. However, not even they can predict a patient's chances of death. However, a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool developed by a team at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine claims to hold the capability to do just that. As per a report by the news agency AFP, the AI-based tool has shown promising results in reading physicians' notes and accurately predicting patients' risk of death, readmission to the hospital, and other important outcomes related to their care. NYUTron The software, known as NYUTron, is currently being used by NYU's affiliated hospitals in New York. The team behind this amazing tool hopes that one day it will become a standard component of healthcare practices. A study published in the journal Nature highlights the predictive capabilities of this AI tool. Also read | AI attempts to bring dead back to life, give people closure Talking to AFP, lead author Eric Oermann, a neurosurgeon and computer scientist at NYU, explained that while predictive models in medicine have existed for some time, they are not widely used due to the challenges of organising and formatting the required data. However, the team realised that physicians consistently write detailed notes about their clinical observations and patient interactions. This, as per the team, can be a valuable source of data for building predictive models. "One thing that's common in medicine everywhere, is physicians write notes about what they've seen in clinic, what they've discussed with patients," said Oermann. "So our basic insight was, can we start with medical notes as our source of data, and then build predictive models on top of it?" How did they achieve this feat? NYUTron is basically a large language model. To train it, researchers used millions of clinical notes from the health records of 387,000 patients treated at NYU Langone hospitals between January 2011 and May 2020. These notes encompassed various types of records written by doctors, including progress notes, radiology reports, and discharge instructions, resulting in a massive corpus of 4.1 billion words. Also read | AI to pick suitable organs for transplants; help surgeons perform 300 more operations a year Using this data, the software made predictions which were then evaluated against real outcomes retrospectively. One of the significant challenges the software faced was interpreting the diverse natural language used by physicians, which often includes unique abbreviations and variations. The results? Overall, NYUTron exhibited impressive performance, correctly identifying 95 per cent of patients who died in the hospital before discharge and predicting 80 per cent of patients who would be readmitted within 30 days. Furthermore, NYUTron accurately estimated the actual length of stay for 79 per cent of patients, correctly identified 87 per cent of cases where insurance coverage was denied, and accurately recognized 89 per cent of cases where patients had additional conditions accompanying their primary disease. It surpassed the predictions made by most doctors and outperformed non-AI computer models currently in use. Can artificial intelligence replace doctors? Interestingly, no. The tool was outperformed by the most experienced physician in the study, who achieved results exceeding the model's predictions. As per Oermann, "the most senior physician who's actually a very famous physician, he had superhuman performance, better than the model." Oermann emphasised that AI can never replace the physician-patient relationship. Instead, AI tools like NYUTron aim to "provide more information for physicians seamlessly at the point of care so they can make more informed decisions." He remarked that "the sweet spot for technology and medicine isn't that it's going to always deliver necessarily superhuman results, but it's going to really bring up that baseline." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Groundbreaking AI tool predicts patients' chances of death. Can it replace doctors?

In Pics | ANDI, the thermal dummy aiding research on heat-related illnesses

<p>Loss unites humanity as nothing else can. We've all lost someone we loved, and their deaths have left a space nothing and no one can fill. However, many startups are using the new technological capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) to try to do just that. As per an AFP news report, these firms use AI to allow you to talk to your deceased loved ones.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For someone dealing with the grief that comes with loss, this technology can be a boon, but it also raises ethical questions.</p>

<h2><strong>Re-animating the deceased</strong></h2>

<p>Nothing can bring back the people we've lost. However, this technology tries to capture a part of their essence, which can help provide you with some semblance of comfort.</p>

<p>There are many startups offering the service. One such company called DeepBrain AI has a programme called "Rememory".</p>

<p>As per the AI firm's head of development, Joseph Murphy, they create a digital replica of the deceased using hours of video.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/real-terminators-synthetic-self-healing-skin-likely-to-create-killer-robots-on-battlefield-601382">Real Terminators? Synthetic self-healing skin likely to create killer robots on battlefield</a></strong></p>

<p>"We don't create new content," says Murphy. The company says that it only tries to replicate what the person would say when alive.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The company's "Rememory" programme&nbsp;adheres to a policy of not generating new content. This includes sentences or statements that the deceased individual would not have uttered or written during their lifetime.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I'll call it a niche part of our business. It's not a growth area for us," he said as per AFP.</p>

<p>Another company, StoryFile,&nbsp;follows the same idea.</p>

<p>The company's head, Stephen Smith, said, "Our approach is to capture the wonder of an individual, then use the AI tools."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It's a very fine ethical area that we're taking with great care," he added.&nbsp;StoryFile, claims several thousand users already use its Life service.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/saudi-arabia-launches-earth-and-space-science-studies-for-secondary-students-post-launch-of-astronauts-to-iss-601840">Saudi Arabia launches Earth and Space Science studies for secondary students</a></strong></p>

<p>Yet another similar service is called 'Replika'. It is developed by Russian engineer Eugenia Kyuda.</p>

<p>A few years back in 2015, Kyuda lost her best friend Roman to a tragic car accident. To deal with the grief, she developed a chatbot named 'Roman'. This chatbot was trained using thousands of text messages that her deceased friend had sent to loved ones.</p>

<p>After two years, Kyuda introduced Replika, a platform that provides highly advanced personalised conversational bots.</p>

<p>However, according to a spokesperson, Replika, unlike its predecessor Roman, "is not a platform made to recreate a lost loved one."</p>

<h2><strong>Is it only chatbots?</strong></h2>

<p>No. There are companies that are developing virtual clones.</p>

<p>One such company, Somnium Space, wants to create virtual clones of people while they are still alive. These clones would exist in a different world after the person passes away.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a YouTube video announcing his product, Live Forever, CEO Artur Sychov acknowledged that this concept "It's not for everyone". He acknowledged that individual choices are involved.</p>

<p>"Do I want to meet my grandfather who's in AI? I don't know. But those who want that will be able to."</p>

<h2><strong>The ethical challenges</strong></h2>

<p>Thanks to regenerative technology, these AI avatars can say things the person never said in real life.</p>

<p>According to Joseph Murphy from DeepBrainAI, "These are philosophical challenges, not technical challenges".</p>

<p>"I would say that is a line right now that we do not plan on crossing, but who knows what the future holds?" he added.</p>

<p>Candi Cann, a professor at Baylor University who is studying this topic in South Korea, suggests that interacting with an AI clone of a person can be helpful for achieving closure, especially in "complicated" situations.</p>

<p>"I think it can be helpful to interact with an AI version of a person in order to get closure&nbsp;— particularly in situations where grief was complicated by abuse or trauma," said Cann.</p>

<p>Mari Dias, a professor of medical psychology at Johnson &amp; Wales University, asked her bereaved patients about their thoughts on virtual contact with their deceased loved ones. She revealed, that the&nbsp;most common answer is 'I don't trust AI. I'm afraid it's going to say something I'm not going to accept'. They express concerns and a lack of trust in AI. They fear that the AI avatar might say something they cannot accept, and they feel they have no control over the avatar's actions.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Loss unites humanity as nothing else can. We've all lost someone we loved, and their deaths have left a space nothing and no one can fill. However, many startups are using the new technological capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) to try to do just that.

Loss unites humanity as nothing else can. We've all lost someone we loved, and their deaths have left a space nothing and no one can fill. However, many startups are using the new technological capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) to try to do just that. As per an AFP news report, these firms use AI to allow you to talk to your deceased loved ones. For someone dealing with the grief that comes with loss, this technology can be a boon, but it also raises ethical questions. Re-animating the deceased Nothing can bring back the people we've lost. However, this technology tries to capture a part of their essence, which can help provide you with some semblance of comfort. There are many startups offering the service. One such company called DeepBrain AI has a programme called "Rememory". As per the AI firm's head of development, Joseph Murphy, they create a digital replica of the deceased using hours of video. Also read | Real Terminators? Synthetic self-healing skin likely to create killer robots on battlefield "We don't create new content," says Murphy. The company says that it only tries to replicate what the person would say when alive. The company's "Rememory" programme adheres to a policy of not generating new content. This includes sentences or statements that the deceased individual would not have uttered or written during their lifetime. "I'll call it a niche part of our business. It's not a growth area for us," he said as per AFP. Another company, StoryFile, follows the same idea. The company's head, Stephen Smith, said, "Our approach is to capture the wonder of an individual, then use the AI tools." "It's a very fine ethical area that we're taking with great care," he added. StoryFile, claims several thousand users already use its Life service. Also read | Saudi Arabia launches Earth and Space Science studies for secondary students Yet another similar service is called 'Replika'. It is developed by Russian engineer Eugenia Kyuda. A few years back in 2015, Kyuda lost her best friend Roman to a tragic car accident. To deal with the grief, she developed a chatbot named 'Roman'. This chatbot was trained using thousands of text messages that her deceased friend had sent to loved ones. After two years, Kyuda introduced Replika, a platform that provides highly advanced personalised conversational bots. However, according to a spokesperson, Replika, unlike its predecessor Roman, "is not a platform made to recreate a lost loved one." Is it only chatbots? No. There are companies that are developing virtual clones. One such company, Somnium Space, wants to create virtual clones of people while they are still alive. These clones would exist in a different world after the person passes away. In a YouTube video announcing his product, Live Forever, CEO Artur Sychov acknowledged that this concept "It's not for everyone". He acknowledged that individual choices are involved. "Do I want to meet my grandfather who's in AI? I don't know. But those who want that will be able to." The ethical challenges Thanks to regenerative technology, these AI avatars can say things the person never said in real life. According to Joseph Murphy from DeepBrainAI, "These are philosophical challenges, not technical challenges". "I would say that is a line right now that we do not plan on crossing, but who knows what the future holds?" he added. Candi Cann, a professor at Baylor University who is studying this topic in South Korea, suggests that interacting with an AI clone of a person can be helpful for achieving closure, especially in "complicated" situations. "I think it can be helpful to interact with an AI version of a person in order to get closure — particularly in situations where grief was complicated by abuse or trauma," said Cann. Mari Dias, a professor of medical psychology at Johnson & Wales University, asked her bereaved patients about their thoughts on virtual contact with their deceased loved ones. She revealed, that the most common answer is 'I don't trust AI. I'm afraid it's going to say something I'm not going to accept'. They express concerns and a lack of trust in AI. They fear that the AI avatar might say something they cannot accept, and they feel they have no control over the avatar's actions. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

AI attempts to bring dead back to life, give people closure

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