Latest news with #TED
The Herald Scotland
12 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Van driver admits causing crash which killed academic William Noel
Dr Noel tragically never recovered and died a fortnight later in hospital. The 58 year-old had been visiting the capital to purchase rare books for Princeton University in Pennsylvania in the USA, where he was the Associate Librarian for Special Collections. Gilmour today pleaded guilty to the causing the death of the Cambridge University graduate by dangerous driving. He will be sentenced next month. Dr Noel - originally from Yorkshire - had been with two colleagues during the visit to Scotland. The trio had been walking on the pavement back to their hotel when tragedy struck around 6pm that evening. William Noel (Image: NQ) Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC told the High Court in Glasgow: "As Gilmour drove his Citroen Relay van, he was under the influence of cannabis and was interacting with his telephone, which was not connected to a hands-free system. "He failed to pay attention to the road ahead causing the vehicle to leave the road in the direction of WIlliam Noel and his companions." The advocate depute added the van went up onto the pavement, initially clipped one of the academic's friends before hitting Dr Noel from behind. He was lifted onto the bonnet, struck the windscreen before landing on the ground. An off-duty doctor out walking her dog as well as a passing nurse immediately ran to help. Dr Noel was then rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The victim's wife back in Pennsylvania was contacted and she flew over to Scotland to be with her husband. Dr Noel's brother also arrived from London. But, on April 29, he sadly passed away due to suffering severe head trauma as a result of the collision. The court heard cabinet maker Gilmour had been found to have 2.4mg of THC from cannabis use per one litre of blood. The legal limit is 2mg. Gilmour's KC Tony Graham today/yesterday said: "If he could do anything to take back what happened on that date, he would, but, of course, he cannot. "He appreciates words uttered may seem cheap, but he does offer an apology to those bereaved." READ MORE: Gilmour, of Dalkeith, Midlothian, had been on bail, but Mr Graham did not move for that to be continued. Lord Cubie remanded him in custody as sentencing was deferred for reports. The judge: "Nothing the court can say can possibly compensate the loss caused. "This offence appears to have arisen as a direct consequence of your lack of concentration, more concerned with your mobile phone than the road and potentially affected by drug consumption." Dr Noel specialised in the study of Medieval and Renaissance European books. He was described in court as a "highly regarded academic" and "very well known" having hosted TED talks and many public speaking events. Dr Noel had also previously been honoured by the Obama administration for his commitment to open science.
International Business Times
13 hours ago
- International Business Times
Meet the Futurist Re-Engineering Tech Intimacy for the 2030s and Rewriting the Code of Love in a Lonely Age
In the middle of a recent TED conference futurist Cathy Hackl captivated audiences with an experiment that explored the blurry intersection of human emotion and artificial intelligence. Known for her pioneering work at Magic Leap, where she helped launch the virtual human Mica and introduced C-level executives to embodied AI for the first time, Hackl has long been at the forefront of human-computer interaction. Her latest experiments take that vision even further, probing how we might use AI not just to assist us, but to understand and evolve our most human experiences: connection, heartbreak, and love. Her TED journey began with a matchmaking experiment using AI, an unconventional but compelling approach that earned her an invitation to the main stage. But Hackl isn't done. In her next experiment, she'll spend a week "dating" four different AIs, allowing them to compete for her attention and even advise her on who to choose and how to end things. It's part social study, part tech demo, and part emotional audit. Recently, she also turned to AI vibe-coding tools to help navigate the emotional fallout of a breakup, effectively gamifying grief and reframing romantic recovery. All of this is in service of a bigger idea: The Tech Intimacy Scale, Hackl's soon-to-launch framework designed to help people measure and improve their digital relationships. As we shift from the attention economy to what she calls the "intimacy economy," Hackl believes that the future of tech is not about replacing human connection, but enhancing it. From low-intimacy interactions like swiping on dating apps to high-intimacy tools like immersive storytelling in augmented and virtual reality, the scale assesses not just how we use technology, but how it makes us feel. Her goal is not to vilify technology, but to encourage a more thoughtful, emotionally intelligent design and use of it. Just as Brené Brown brought the language of vulnerability and shame to the forefront of emotional literacy, Hackl is crafting a new vocabulary to measure and guide intimacy in digital environments. Brown's groundbreaking work helped people see the power of vulnerability in forging trust and belonging, Hackl takes this further by exploring how technology can either amplify or diminish those vulnerable moments. Similarly, Scott Galloway has repeatedly emphasized how macroeconomic and demographic shifts have eroded traditional relationship structures, especially among young men. In his books and interviews, Galloway points to declining male participation in romantic relationships as both a symptom and cause of broader social detachment. Hackl's ideas provide a complementary lens, while Galloway diagnoses the problem, Hackl begins to architect solutions, imagining digital ecosystems that foster emotional intelligence and nuanced human interaction through immersive tech, gamification, and AI-powered connection tools. Derek Thompson, writing in The Atlantic, has expertly unpacked the "loneliness epidemic" and its correlation to technology, noting how social platforms create an illusion of community while often leaving users feeling more isolated. Hackl acknowledges this dissonance and instead seeks to reverse the trend by advocating for intentional, emotionally aware technology that prioritizes genuine connection. Where Thompson cautions about technology's unintended consequences, Hackl outlines a roadmap for repurposing those same tools to rebuild social capital and emotional resonance. Mel Robbins, known for her practical advice and behavioral triggers like the "5 Second Rule," focuses on motivating individuals to take action in their personal and professional lives. Hackl's approach similarly invites users to be proactive, but in their digital relationships, urging individuals not to passively consume connection through endless swipes, but to "play more," engage authentically, and use immersive storytelling to build emotional presence. Robbins encourages behavior change in daily life; Hackl extends that to the virtual spaces where people increasingly spend their time. What makes Hackl's work particularly timely is that it doesn't exist in a vacuum. She is both reflecting on and contributing to a wider movement toward intentional living, vulnerability, and connection. Hackl is building a framework that acknowledges our loneliness crisis without resigning to it. Instead, she invites creators, developers, and users to take part in a more emotionally intelligent technological future one that, like the work of Brown, Galloway, Thompson, and Robbins, reminds us that connection is both a need and a skill, whether offline or on. Technology isn't the enemy of intimacy. When used with awareness and intention, it can be its greatest ally.
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Pulitzer Prize-winner Susie Ibarra, plus 10 shows to see during the Vancouver Jazz Festival
Susie Ibarra was awarded the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in Music for her adventurous piece titled Sky Islands. As one of the 2025 Vancouver International Jazz Festival artists-in-residence at the New Improvisers Studio at Western Front, the Filipinx-American composer and percussionist will deliver a talk about her concepts on rhythm in daily environments, as well as perform three radically different concerts. All in a day's work for this acclaimed creator, whose work crosses between composing, recording and performing a unique blend of jazz, avant-garde, global and contemporary classical music. Ibarra also lectures on creative impulses and discoveries in field recordings as a TED fellowship recipient. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Sky Islands is a showcase for these conceptual models. A musical tribute to the unique tropical rainforest habitats of Luzon, Philippines, the work combines the distinctive rhythmic traditions of the Northern Philippines with gongs, bamboo staffs and flute, string quartet, jazz flute, piano and Ibarra on numerous percussion instruments. As part of the creation, the artist spent time walking in, and recording, the sounds of the environment of Luzon. The Habitat Sounds label launched by Ibarra and Jake Landau in 2023 has released recordings of sound pieces inspired by and focused on the environment. And Ibarra's book, Rhythm In Nature: An Ecology of Rhythm, looks at how to sound-map the world's natural sounds into rhythms that can be developed into compositions. It's heady stuff. The final results of the applied concepts is some truly beautiful music, as heard in Sky Islands and on albums such as 2004's Folkloriko and 2007's solo Drum Sketches. Receiving the Pulitzer Prize in Music for composing recognizes not only the artist's music, but also her writing and research methods. Artist Talk moderated by François Houle: June 26, 3:30 p.m. at Western Front Collaborative Performance with Cat Toren, Tommy Babin and Jen Yakamovich: June 27, 5 p.m. at Revue Stage, Granville Island New Improvisers Studio public performance: June 28, 1 p.m. at Western Front Susie Ibarra: An Ecology of Rhythm: June 28, 9:30 p.m. at Revue Stage, Granville Island 'It's hard to wear a lot of hats, but it's the direction that my studies in music and sound have taken me. And I'm grateful to have the many different sides to my creative practice,' said Ibarra. 'I'm honoured to receive the Pulitzer and hugely proud of the artists who were involved in bringing it together into the performance and production for the world premiere. To be honest, it's still sinking in.' Now living in Berlin, where she is on a fellowship looking into music and sound, Ibarra says her hybrid style has developed over a long history of making field recordings and finding rhythmic content in everything from glacier movements in the Himalayas, to wind in bamboo forests. Finding the muse in such projects depends on using a sense that, weirdly, many musicians can overlook: Hearing. 'When I go out into the field with a sound team to record, I try not to force anything or compose, but rather take in the space as a whole,' she said. 'With a team, you can capture all of the elements that you might not individually hear and get the full orchestra effect. For many years now, I have been recording things like water flows, birdsongs and such and transcribing them.' Bringing all of that 'huge soundscape' back into the studio where she can manipulate the frequencies into audible levels opens up a treasure chest of sonic opportunities to develop into compositions. Ibarra also tunes into the soundscape in the 'built' urban world. You get very different results from the natural versus developed environment, but Ibarra manages to make them all groove. 'I'll be working with improvising musicians during the artist-in-residence, working on concepts that connect my environmental field practice with how it integrates with studio and stage performance,' she said. 'I'm really excited to be going out with them for field recording in Vancouver, as you have so many nearby places to record. Then we will present some music at the end of the week developed out of our study.' Ibarra will also get behind her drum kit to spontaneously create music with an instant quartet as well as a more guided presentation based on one of her compositions titled Bird Souls: Score for Flying. The Vancouver International Jazz Festival runs June 20-July 1. However, there is a break between the first 10 days and the Canada Day jazz events that take place on July 1. After all, Canada Day often feels like a separate festival after a festival. It's kind of a no-brainer to be there for the whole day, which winds down with a performance by the acclaimed Cowboy Bebop Bebop Band at 8:15 p.m. at Ocean Artworks for free. Given this large group has been selling out shows performing the swinging score from the acclaimed anime series Cowboy Bebop, seeing them gratis is great. For the full calendar of jazz fest listings, pick up a copy of the program or visit . Here are the picks for 10 shows over the first 10 days of jazz fest not to miss. When : June 20, 7 p.m. Where : Western Front Tickets/info : $39 at The Canadian premiere of a new work commissioned by Poland's Jazztopad Festival/National Forum of Musicians Wroclaw for the acclaimed contemporary classical group the Lutoslawski Quartet by star Saxophonist/composer Wilkins. When : June 21, 3:15 p.m. Where : Downtown Jazz, Georgia Street Stage, Vancouver Art Gallery Tickets/info : Free Multi-instrumentalist Kidane is a rising star who leads a number of crack combos performing everything from the Vancouver hippie era groovers Dido & the Handpeople (July 1, Ocean Artworks, 2:45 p.m., free) to leading her own adventurous original material in units like her sextet. When : June 22, 9:30 p.m. Where : Tyrant Studios Tickets/info : $18 at British-born, Nigerian-Canadian drummer and composer Onanuga is a fixture on the Edmonton music scene and a frequent visitor to town where he has a trio with local keyboardist Mary Ancheta and saxophonist Gordon Li. Stick around for the Open Jazz Jam to follow lead by the group and whoever sits in on the session. When : June 23, 7:30 p.m. Where: Vancouver Playhouse Tickets/Info : From $50 at Grammy-winning Cameroonian bassist and bandleader whose credits range from Salif Keita to Bobby McFerrin and the Pat Metheny Group leads an ace trio that finds common ground in Afro-Cuban grooves and improvisational grit with inspired style. When : June 24, 7:30 p.m. Where : Vancouver Playhouse Tickets/info : from $50 at A living legend on the jazz guitar, Seattle-based musician Frisell has a resumé that reads like a history of jazz and instrumental Americana over the last 50-plus years. His trio with bassist Morgan and drummer Royston is a true power trio. When: June 25, 9:30 p.m. Where : Revue Stage Tickets/info : $30 at Basset clarinettist Houle and guitarist/oud player perform together as Heliotrope making wild and beautiful avant-garde/open jazz/classical hybrid. Add in Dublin-based pianist Kimura and Swiss-based American improvised musical legend, drummer Gerry Hemingway and sparks will fly. When : June 26, 9:30 p.m. Where : Revue Stage Tickets/info : $30 at Violinist/composer Zubot is a fixture on the West Coast scene in multiple capacities. This group focuses on his contemporary chamber jazz work features his equally renowned violinist brother Jesse and also Josh's son Klee. The bows will fly at this one. When : June 27, 7:30 p.m. Where : Performance Works, 1218 Cartwright St., Granville Is. Tickets/info : $44 at Celebrating Black music across history, trumpeter Hill is a contemporary jazz star whose latest project homes in on compositions from fellow Chicago scene player Jeff Parker to Afro-futurist reeds player Marcus Strickland and others. He will perform these pieces with his crack quartet. When : June 28, 7:30 p.m. Where : Performance Works, 1218 Cartwright St., Granville Is. Tickets/info : $44 at London saxophonist Garcia is exploding across international jazz with her mix of West Indian dub stylings, R&B, breakbeat and grime with unique, driving power. Her most-recent album, 2024's Odyssey, is loaded with killer jams. When : June 29, 4 p.m. Where : Ocean Artworks, Granville Is. Tickets/info : Pay-what-you-can Vancouver guitarist Elkins blends jazz, folk, rock and blues into her flowing tunes that continuously surprise with their changes and chording. Her debut, Brighton Train, is due out later this year on the excellent local Infidels Jazz label. sderdeyn@ Love concerts, but can't make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. Explore upcoming concerts and the extensive archive of past performances.
Observer
2 days ago
- General
- Observer
Grief and grit in the climate fight
I didn't come to TED Countdown, a global gathering focused on accelerating climate solutions, in search of answers. I came carrying questions. Heavy ones. About exhaustion. About how long one can stay in the climate movement without losing the very thing that drew them in: belief. It has been four years since I gave my TED talk, filmed in the stillness of Oman's lockdown, standing in the mangroves of Yankit, who have always been more than trees to me. They are teachers. They hold storms, heal waters and never ask for applause. In that moment, even through a screen, I wanted to share that symbol of climate resilience. I did not know then how much I would need that same resilience now. I saw that tension again in Al Gore's talk. His words did not sound rehearsed. They sounded bruised. He spoke against the rise of climate realism, a quiet surrender dressed up as pragmatism. That realism does not make us honest. It makes us tired. It tells us to shrink our vision to match political convenience. But I have never believed realism and ambition are opposites. You can face the facts and still believe in miracles. You can be heartbroken and still show up. There was also a session that asked whether the 1.5 degree target is already dead. Some said yes. Others refused to surrender. But what struck me most was not the debate. It was what it revealed. We are still struggling to mourn while we act. Still learning to speak both loss and urgency in the same breath. In the session I co-led, titled Spiritual Resilience for Climate Action, we asked a different question: what roots us? We read sacred verses, sat in silence and shared the quotes and memories that carry us through. We often reach for graphs and policy briefs. But sometimes, the most powerful thing is a remembered verse or a deep breath before a storm. That space grounded me more than any debate or headline. It was a return to why we do this in the first place. Not for data points, but for the land and lives we love. And then there was the fire. Not in speeches, but in what is already being done. Over a million people have signed on to support the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, led by Pacific Island nations who have no luxury of delay. Outside the United Nations process, they are building the future anyway. That is not protest. It is leadership. The Global South is not waiting to be rescued. It is offering rescue. There is no shortcut through climate grief. But naming it matters. Sitting with it matters. And still choosing to act, especially when the story seems too heavy to lift, is what transforms that grief into something enduring. I am leaving Nairobi without easy optimism. But with something stronger: clarity. Climate fatigue is real. But so is climate faith. And faith, for me, is not just belief in a better outcome. It is belief that showing up again and again matters. That grief can coexist with grit. That stillness can sharpen resolve.
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Sling Therapeutics Appoints Ken Lock as Chief Commercial Officer
BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sling Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on late-stage development of an oral small molecule for the treatment of thyroid eye disease (TED), today announced the appointment of Ken Lock as Chief Commercial Officer. Linsitinib has the potential to be a transformative oral small molecule therapy for TED patients, offering a compelling and convenient alternative to currently available treatments. 'We are delighted to welcome Ken as Sling's Chief Commercial Officer. He brings deep expertise across marketing, sales and market access in competitive markets along with a proven track record building and leading high-performing commercial organizations, which will be instrumental as we advance linsitinib to a confirmatory Phase 3 study in patients with thyroid eye disease,' said Ryan Zeidan, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Sling Therapeutics. 'Ken shares our deep commitment to improving the lives of patients and their families, and we look forward to working alongside him to help deliver linsitinib to the people who need it most.' 'Joining Sling Therapeutics at this pivotal stage in the development of linsitinib is an exciting opportunity," shared Lock, who brings extensive U.S. and global commercial leadership experience to his role. 'Linsitinib has the potential to be a transformative oral small molecule therapy for TED patients, offering a compelling and convenient alternative to currently available treatments. I am excited to join this highly accomplished team as we work to address the significant unmet needs of TED patients.' Most recently, Lock served as Chief Commercial Officer at ACELYRIN, where he led the commercial, medical affairs, and alliance management functions in the TED market. Lock also served as Chief Commercial Officer at Arcutis Biotherapeutics, where he built and led a team of over 130 people and was responsible for the launch and brand development of ZORYVE®. Prior to that, he held sales and marketing roles of increasing responsibility at Gilead Sciences, Amgen, and Wyeth (now Pfizer). Lock holds an M.B.A. from the Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management and a dual B.S. and B.A. in Biochemistry/Cell Biology and Psychology from the University of California, San Diego. About Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) is a serious, progressive, and vision-threatening rare autoimmune disease that affects approximately 70,000 people in the U.S. and has a similar prevalence in the EU. TED often occurs in people living with Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism and is caused by dysfunction in the IGF-1R signaling pathway, which results in fibrous tissue growth behind the eyes. This leads to several negative symptoms that may have long-term, irreversible damage as the tissue growth pushes the eyes forward or causes the eyes and eyelids to become red and swollen. As the disease progresses, it can lead to pain, eye bulging (proptosis), and double vision (diplopia), thus dramatically impacting a patient's quality of life. TED predominantly affects women, and most frequently affects people with hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease. The current standard of care typically involves either invasive orbital surgery or a lengthy series of infusions with potential adverse events like loss of hearing, hyperglycemia, or menstrual cycle changes. About Sling Therapeutics Sling Therapeutics is an innovative biopharmaceutical company whose lead product candidate, linsitinib, has the potential to be the first oral IGF-1R inhibitor to treat thyroid eye disease (TED). Linsitinib is in late-stage clinical development for TED, which is an autoimmune disease with a significant unmet need, as current treatment options are limited to invasive orbital surgery or a lengthy series of infusions. Sling aims to bring a convenient oral therapy to improve patients' quality of life and reduce physician and healthcare system burden. For more information, visit
