Alphabet has severed contractual ties with Sydney-based machine intelligence company, Appen, which played a key role in training Google’s chatbot Bard, Google Search results and other AI-powered products. Alphabet informed Appen of the termination after a strategic review process, noting that the cessation of all projects will take effect on March 19. In a filing, … Read more
Researchers have modified a unique cancer-loving probiotic bacteria to release a marker that can be detected in the urine after it comes into contact with bowel cancer, even when it’s in the early stages. The novel test may mean avoiding invasive procedures like colonoscopies and messy poo-based screening tests. Globally, colorectal cancer – also known … Read more
Researchers have used reprogrammed CAR T cells, usually used as a cancer treatment, to target the senescent cells that contribute to aging and later-life diseases. After one treatment, old mice showed improved metabolism and exercise tolerance, while young ones aged slower and were protected from age-related diseases like obesity and diabetes for life. T cells … Read more
Gene therapy has allowed several children born with inherited deafness to hear.A small study published Wednesday documents significantly restored hearing in five of six kids treated in China. On Tuesday, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia announced similar improvements in an 11-year-old boy treated there. And earlier this month, Chinese researchers published a study showing much … Read more
Gene therapy has allowed several children born with inherited deafness to hear. A small study published Wednesday documents significantly restored hearing in five of six kids treated in China. On Tuesday, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia announced similar improvements in an 11-year-old boy treated there. And earlier this month, Chinese researchers published a study showing … Read more
Despite a 2024 so far marked with serious conflicts, climate uncertainty and the rapid ascension of AI technologies, the famous Doomsday Clock has remained paused at 90 seconds to midnight, the same time as last year. The clock, created in 1947 by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, aims to signify how close to world … Read more
Montreal — A 10-year global study of positive doping tests by children and young teenagers showed most were tied to Russia, India and China, and in sports like weightlifting, athletics and cycling, the World Anti-Doping Agency said Wednesday. Diuretics, stimulants and anabolic steroids were the most commonly found substances in more than 1,500 positive tests … Read more
A stringent crackdown on environmental protests in the United Kingdom, characterised by “draconian” new laws, excessive restrictions on courtroom evidence, and the use of civil injunctions, is casting a chilling effect on fundamental freedoms, according to a United Nations expert. In the face of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, … Read more
Storm Jocelyn has unleashed a new wave of travel disruptions across a significant portion of the UK, emerging less than 48 hours after Storm Isha claimed two lives and left thousands without electricity. As the 10th named storm of the season, Storm Jocelyn triggered an amber warning for wind in parts of Scotland on Wednesday … Read more
The European Union (EU) has reported a drastic reduction in fossil fuel carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, reaching a 60-year low. This achievement signals a major stride towards the EU’s ambitious climate goals and underscores the effectiveness of ongoing initiatives to transition towards cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. In 2023, the European Union emitted eight per … Read more
