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Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Scientists detect 13 billion-year old signal from ‘Cosmic Dawn' using Earth-based telescopes
In what can be called a truly unique accomplishment, scientists seem to have detected a 13 billion-year-old signal using Earth-based telescopes. This feat allow them to see how the first stars impacted light emitted from the Big Bang. Astrophysicists measured polarised microwave light to create a clearer picture of what is known as Cosmic Dawn. They traced this by using telescopes high in the Andes mountains of northern Chile. Cosmic Dawn refers to the period roughly between 50 million to one billion years after the Big Bang, a time when the first stars, black holes, and galaxies were reportedly formed. The research led by Tobias Marriage, professor of physics and astronomy at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), is the first time ground-based observations have captured signals from the Cosmic Dawn. 'People thought this couldn't be done from the ground. Astronomy is a technology-limited field, and microwave signals from the Cosmic Dawn are famously difficult to measure,' Marriage was quoted as saying by the JHU website. 'Ground-based observations face additional challenges compared to space. Overcoming those obstacles makes this measurement a significant achievement,' he added. According to the official JHU website, cosmic microwaves are barely millimetres in wavelength and are very hard to detect. The signal from polarised microwave light is about a million times fainter, making it much more difficult to trace. Meanwhile, on Earth, broadcast radio waves, radar and satellites can drown their signal, and changes in the atmosphere, weather and even temperature can distort it. The researchers claimed that even under perfect conditions, measuring this type of microwave would need highly sensitive equipment. Scientists from the US National Science Foundation's Cosmology Larger Angular Scale Surveyor, or CLASS project, used telescopes that have been specifically designed to detect traces left by the first stars in the relic big bang light. This was previously only accomplished by technology deployed in space, such as the US National Aerospace and Space Administration Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) and European Space Agency Planck space telescopes. As part of the project, the researchers compared the CLASS telescope data with data from the Planck and WMAP missions. They identified interference and narrowed in on a common signal from the polarised microwave light. Polarisation is when light waves collide into something and scatter. 'When light hits the hood of your car and you see a glare, that's polarisation. To see clearly, you can put on polarised glasses to take away glare,' said author Yunyang Li, who was a PhD student at Johns Hopkins and then a fellow at the University of Chicago during the research. 'Using the new common signal, we can determine how much of what we're seeing is cosmic glare from light bouncing off the hood of the cosmic dawn, so to speak.'
Daily Express
08-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
Vaping's harmful link to pneumonia
Published on: Sunday, June 08, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 08, 2025 Text Size: While scientists investigate the impacts of these chemicals, we do know that there are thousands of cases of hospitalisations due to severe respiratory issues linked to e-cigarettes and vapes, with a considerable number being lethal cases. What makes vaping harmful? 'E-cigarettes and vapes have been widely associated with pneumonia (acute respiratory viral or bacterial infection of the lungs) and a specific variation called lipoid pneumonia where aerosolised droplets of lipid (oil) are deposited in the lungs. Advertisement STUDIES are being carried out to investigate the mechanisms by which vaping is bad for health, but researchers already have some ideas. Vaping involves inhaling a vapourised liquid known as vape juice or e-liquid, which may consist of many different types of ingredients mixed in a lipid (oily) base. These ingredients usually include flavourings, nicotine and other additives. Outside of Malaysia, it is also common to add marijuana extracts such as THC and CBD. Johns Hopkins University (JHU) researchers also found caffeine in the vape juice concoction they tested, which they suspect could be giving an undisclosed 'extra kick' and wondered if the added addictive stimulant was an intentional ingredient. Advertisement Other compounds found by the JHU team were flavourings associated with respiratory problems, pesticides and industrial chemicals. Although some of the ingredients used in vaping liquid may be safe such as Vitamin E and caffeine (in the correct doses), scientists know much less about the safety of a vapourised and inhaled form of these compounds. Not to mention, the heating, vapourising, inhalation processes, interaction in the body and exhaling processes that may result in secondary chemical interactions between the thousands of chemical concoctions, resulting in more unknown compounds. While scientists investigate the impacts of these chemicals, we do know that there are thousands of cases of hospitalisations due to severe respiratory issues linked to e-cigarettes and vapes, with a considerable number being lethal cases. These are known as e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). Given the developing field, findings and acronyms may change. The human respiratory system has a great defence mechanism to guard itself against foreign bodies but particles of less than three to five microns in diameter can penetrate deep into the lungs. Associate director at the Johns Hopkins Cardiothoracic Residency Programme, Dr Broderick, opined that 'some of the vapourised elements of the oil are getting deep down into the lungs and causing an inflammatory response'. A study by researchers from Jean Monnet University in France and a science and engineering research company with a focus area in vaping, Ingescience, indicate that the aerosol particle size (in their study) can range between 1.1 to 2.4 microns, depending on the power (wattage) and atomiser technology used. Particle size for cigarettes can be many times smaller and could mean a deeper penetration into the lungs and therefore increased effectiveness in nicotine (and other chemicals) uptake, but smaller particles could also mean lesser deposition in the lungs compared with vape liquids. A research paper by Ranpara in 2021 mentioned that aerosol sizes of less than one micron are highly likely to be inhaled and then exhaled. In turn, this could mean a higher deposition risk compared with cigarette smoke. The researchers also investigated the varying particle size distribution of different types of base oils (Vitamin E acetate [VEA], Vitamin E oil, coconut oil, and medium chain triglycerides) and simulated respiratory depositions. Vitamin E acetate and Vitamin E oil have the largest particle size and were found to be statistically different to the rest. Vitamin E acetate has been identified as one of the major causal links to EVALI, and findings by Ranpara add further credence to this. The researchers concluded that 'these observed particle deposition patterns were consistent with previous inhalation toxicological studies and with the characterisation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of EVALI cases, which support the pulmonary region of the lung as the site of injury'. Researchers from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai, India found that exhaled cigarette smoke shows growth in particle size, while researchers Conor McGrath postulated mechanisms to explain the deposition pattern through processes such as coagulation, hygroscopic growth, condensation and evaporation, changes in composition, or changes in inhalation behaviour. A research paper by Sosnowski and Kramek-Romanowska (2016) found that their tested e-cigarettes had higher aerodynamic resistance (roughly three times more) than cigarette smoke. Therefore, it would appear that for both cigarette and vaping, exhalation has a higher chance of deposition in the lungs. Still, vape could be worse due to the combination of higher aerodynamic resistance and larger particle size of vape particles may confer higher deposition risk in the lungs. The difference in chemical properties between vape liquid and cigarette smoke may also contribute to the difference in deposition mechanisms and characteristics. Additionally, styles of vaping which tend to prefer larger exhaled 'cloud' formation and increased lung residence time could be a magnifying factor to deposition. Therefore, EMIR Research hypothesises that vaping may carry a higher risk of acute lung complications in the near term compared to smoking (even if shorter-term risks such as nicotine uptake may be lower) due to higher deposition risk. Indeed, there have been many reports that support this hypothesis. E-cigarettes and vapes have been widely associated with pneumonia (acute respiratory viral or bacterial infection of the lungs) and a specific variation called lipoid pneumonia where aerosolised droplets of lipid (oil) are deposited in the lungs. It has been found that the immune system can be compromised with the immune cells (such as macrophages) being lipid-laden, which raises the chance of developing lipoid pneumonia. Advanced cases may require oxygen support and ventilators, and can even be fatal. Researchers from the University of Florida College of Medicine proposed in a 2021 paper a potential relationship between frequent vaping to increased vulnerability to viral and bacterial infection through 'cytotoxic effect on lung epithelial and immune cells, and the possibility for increased the virulence possibly through biofilm formation, invasiveness, and resistance to antimicrobial peptides, leading to necrotising pneumonia and persistent bacteremia'. Some cases point to the mounting linkage between EVALI and infections, such as mycoplasma pneumonia and necrotising pneumonia among teenagers, with cases indicating only a short-term duration of daily vaping for around two years before disease presentation. Cases also tend to involve teenagers and young adults, pointing to vaping interests among younger age groups. These are examples pointing to the younger generation getting seriously sick faster. To top it off, just like cigarettes, e-cigarettes and vapes have also been associated with lower fertility function. ONE Fertility Kitchener Waterloo – a fertility and in-vitro fertilisation clinic – pointed to lowering reduced sperm quality, count and motility (ability to move) in males, and delayed egg production, fertilisation, and embryo implantation problems for women. They also pointed to adverse effects on fetal development and stunted growth in infants and children. This is not surprising as both vapes and cigarettes share some common ingredients such as nicotine and other compounds associated with reduced sperm health. There are also reports that the flavouring concoction in the vape juice affects cells in the testicles and reduces sperm motility. And these are just some of the known chemicals. What about the mostly unidentified 2,000 chemicals found in e-cigarette and vaping liquid, as reported in a 2021 study (2021) by researchers from the JHU? Summary Specific recommendations have been discussed in another article by EMIR Research titled 'Treat Vape Like Cigarettes', but it is clear that shifting from smoking to vaping is far from a healthy choice. Though longer-term impacts are less known, the vaping liquid contains nicotine and other common toxins found in cigarettes. Mounting evidence linking acute respiratory diseases with vaping, many other health issues such as infertility and related health conditions involving the cardiovascular system, the various unknowns and insufficient longer-term data and questionable independence of studies put into question the notion of a 'safer' option of vaping compared with cigarettes, even in the near term. With increasing cases of non-communicable diseases, an ageing population, and the brain drain phenomenon, poor regulations and enforcement surrounding vapes and ecigarettes in Malaysia could be paving the way for a health epidemic involving the youth and reducing their reproductive potential, ultimately jeopardising the health of Malaysia's future.
NDTV
03-06-2025
- General
- NDTV
James Webb Telescope Detects Frozen Water In Young Star System For The First Time
For decades, scientists have been fascinated by the mystery of how life originated on Earth and where our water came from. One long-standing theory suggests that water was present around our star, particularly in the outer reaches of the solar system in its early days. Recently, NASA researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope made a groundbreaking discovery that lends credence to this theory. They've found water ice in the debris disk that orbits HD 181327, a Sun-like star 155 light-years from Earth. According to Science Alert, the star system, just 23 million years old, is significantly younger than our 4.6-billion-year-old Solar System. This youthful system is still in its formative stages, with a protoplanetary disk surrounding the star that hasn't yet coalesced into planets. Chen Xie, an assistant research scientist at JHU and the study's lead author, said in a recent NASA press release, "Webb unambiguously detected not just water ice, but crystalline water ice, which is also found in locations like Saturn's rings and icy bodies in our Solar System's Kuiper Belt. The presence of water ice helps facilitate planet formation. Icy materials may also ultimately be 'delivered' to terrestrial planets that may form over a couple of hundred million years in systems like this." Using the James Webb Space Telescope's near-infrared spectrograph (NIRSpec), researchers detected water ice in the debris disk surrounding HD 181327. The water ice was predominantly found in the outer debris ring, making up over 20% of its mass, in the form of "dirty snowballs", a combination of ice and fine dust particles. The amount of water ice decreased closer to the star, with only 8% of the material consisting of ice halfway in from the disk's edge, and virtually none near the centre. This decrease is likely due to vaporisation from the star's ultraviolet radiation or potentially locked up in rocks and planetesimals. "When I was a graduate student 25 years ago, my advisor told me there should be ice in debris disks, but before Webb, we didn't have instruments sensitive enough to make these observations. What's most striking is that this data looks similar to the telescope's other recent observations of Kuiper Belt objects in our own Solar System," said Christine Chen, an associate astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) and co-author on the study. Analysing these actively forming planetary systems will enhance our understanding of planet formation models and provide fresh insights into the origins of our own Solar System.
Technical.ly
23-05-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Experts split on how to handle AI's role in US-China relations
A core question lies under every debate about the United States' relationship with the People's Republic of China: Are we truly adversaries? This query underscores all discussions about the TikTok ban, tariffs, semiconductor manufacturing and the rise of DeepSeek. It also arose during a debate at Johns Hopkins University 's (JHU) primary campus in Baltimore last week that, on its face, aimed to explore whether stricter export regulation could help the US surpass China in AI development. Instead of sticking to that specific topic, the moderated conversation between a quartet of economic, political and diplomatic experts took on the broader context of the two countries' often-contentious relationship. The four experts appeared on Shriver Hall's stage for the second event in the Hopkins Forum, a series put together by JHU's SNF Agora Institute and the New York-based nonprofit Open to Debate. Both organizations have connections to billionaire philanthropists; the Agora Institute's 'SNF' references the foundation of late Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos, while Open To Debate was founded by the private equity and investment titan Robert Rosencranz, who still chairs its board. The two entities' missions revolve around boosting democratic engagement through respectful dialogue across silos. Their priorities also manifest in the debate itself, as panelists brought up the US and China's respective roots in democracy and autocracy, as well as the role AI plays in how it gets deployed or commercialized. The Hopkins Forum follows a debate structure with opening and closing statements, specific windows for responses and room for audience questions that Open to Debate uses in other events, which the organization then shares via social and public media. This debate came about three months after the first in the series, in which former US Attorney General Jeff Sessions and three other speakers debated the future of the Supreme Court. For this debate, the four panelists took the original question — 'can the US outpace China in AI through chip controls?' — and ran with a conversation. They touched on topics such as AI competition and collaboration between institutions in the two countries, their respective affiliations toward democracy or autocracy, how each government uses AI in surveillance and national security matters and the political status of Taiwan. Here are key quotes from each speaker's statements. Susan Thornton, a retired US Department of State official and senior fellow at Yale Law School's Paul Tsai China Center. 'Making the AI competition with China a zero-sum game not only will not work — it is dangerous. We don't have to give China the cutting-edge chips; we did that back in 2019 with restrictions on [extreme ultraviolet] lithography technology. That was a move that was widely supported in the international community. It's an easy execution, easy implementation. Everyone agrees, and China accepts it, that they're not going to have the most cutting-edge technology chips. … We're the two leading AI powers. Everyone else in the world thinks we ought to be talking about [regulation], and I think we should focus on that instead of worrying about changing the chip controls every two weeks.' Will Hurd, chief strategy officer of defense tech company CHAOS Industries, who was formerly a CIA officer, US congressman (R-TX) and OpenAI board member: 'This technology is evolving so fast, the next 35 years [are going to] make the last 35 years look like we were a bunch of monkeys playing in the dirt with sticks. And at that time, are we going to say, 'Did we do everything we can to make sure our way of life continued and was maintained?'' Paul Triolo, senior vice president for China and tech policy at the DGA-Albright Stoneridge Group: 'Both the Biden and the Trump administration have changed the goalposts in terms of the [export] controls, expanding the controls over the last two-and-a-half years, which has been really confusing to industry. It's disrupted global supply chains and it's disrupted critical technology relationships. And this comes with steep costs.' Lindsay Gorman, senior fellow and managing director of the German Marshall Fund's technology program: 'This is about who controls the fundamental means of production of the next century. And in China, we have a coercive power — one that issues cyber attacks, that uses economic leverage when countries vote for a dissident to win a Nobel Peace Prize, or when they criticize the Chinese government. So the world that I'm imagining is one where someone speaks out against something the Chinese government has done, and their access to the new personalized medicine they're developing goes away.' Check out the full debate below, and keep scrolling for some photo highlights from the event.
Telegraph
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
We've been ostracised for telling the truth about how the liberal elite got Covid so wrong
Five years on from the pandemic and yet Covid and the measures used to respond to it still, it seems, have the capacity to shock. Stephen Macedo, a liberal academic at Princeton University, has just spent months examining how the Western political class got its response to the pandemic so wrong – an endeavour that has made him an outlier among many of his peers. Macedo, 68, a professor of politics, says he was 'shocked on a daily basis' by information that he and Frances Lee, a professor of politics and public affairs at the university, unearthed throughout the writing process. 'I have often not been able to believe what I've been reading,' says Macedo. Among the most perturbing was a plan published by the World Health Organisation in 2019, months before the pandemic started, followed by a report by Johns Hopkins University (JHU) later that year, in which both were were 'sceptical about a whole range of non-pharmaceutical interventions [NPIs, i.e. face coverings and social distancing],' Lee explains. A 2011 UK government pre-pandemic plan had reached similar conclusions. And yet these 'interventions' formed a central part of the response to the pandemic in Britain and the United States. Along with Lee, Macedo has become a loud voice in the effort to challenge how the 'laptop classes' defined our pandemic response, and got it badly wrong. In their book, In Covid's Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us, published on Tuesday and described by The New York Times as 'an invitation to have a reckoning', the two men argue that, in the face of a global emergency, democracy and free speech failed. We meet at Princeton, in New Jersey, on a grey spring day, earnest undergrads clutching coffee cups passing along the cherry blossom-lined streets. Macedo and Lee explain that their goal is 'not just to look back for looking back's sake' but to reflect on where the liberal political class veered off course, and set out the change of approach that is required ahead of the next global emergency. The JHU analysis warned that 'public health officials would need to advise politicians that there's a poor evidence base here, and that they shouldn't go out and make promises for results that may not pan out, and that they needed to weigh the costs' of simply shutting everything down – from isolating humans, who are social creatures, to closing businesses, and the risk of learning delays for children being kept out of school.
