The number of British people emigrating to the EU has risen 30% since the Brexit vote – Business Insider – Business Insider

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The number of British people emigrating to European countries has risen by 30% since the 2016 Brexit referendum, according to a new study, which warned of a potential "brain drain" of citizens as they settle in continental Europe.

The number of UK citizens settling in European Union countries each year was 73,642 between 2016 and 2018, up from 56,832 between 2008 and 2015.

The figures, based on OECD and Eurostat data, come from a joint study by the Oxford-in-Berlin Research Partnership and the Berlin-based WZB Social Science Centre, and were first reported by The Guardian newspaper.

The UK formally left the EU in January and is currently in a transition period that will expire at the end of the year.

As part of its Brexit plans, Boris Johnson's government has pledged to end the free movement rights which gives EU citizens the right to live, work, and settle in other member states without applying for residency there. This means UK citizens will no longer have the same freedoms to live and work in the EU as they do now.

Daniel Tetlow of Oxford-in-Berlin, the report's co-author, said Brexit had been the "by far the most dominant driver of migration decisions since 2016."

Daniel Auer of WZB, the co-author, said: 'These increases in numbers are of a magnitude that you would expect when a country is hit by a major economic or political crisis."

The study also recorded a 500% increase in UK citizens who moved to the EU and then obtained passports for the countries they had moved to. Germany saw the biggest rise of 2,000%, with 31,600 UK citizens having naturalised there since 2016.

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs and Brexit spokesperson Alistair Carmichael, said the figures were "unsurprising" with "the government still failing to guarantee the rights we all currently enjoy through the EU."

He said: "To avoid a brain drain and yet another hit to our economy, the Conservative Government must secure our rights and freedoms. Stripping these to appease an impossible image of what Brexit means would be unforgivable."

Naomi Smith, CEO of Best For Britain, the UK campaign for a comprehensive trade deal with the EU, said: "With a second wave of the virus on the horizon, threatening severe shortages in a number of key sectors, it's a sad indictment of governmentpolicy that so many Brits are leaving our shores.

"Combined with the number of EU nationals leaving Britain as free movement ends, this could mean real problems of the UK economy particularly in sectors like catering and hospitality, which are struggling to get back on their feet."

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The number of British people emigrating to the EU has risen 30% since the Brexit vote - Business Insider - Business Insider

Ronnie O’Sullivans moving to Germany Brexit confession after years of lies from MPs – Express

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A five-time world champion and multimillionaire, OSullivan describes himself as semi-retired these days, despite an insatiable appetite from fans for him to continue. Known for his unpredictable temperament and outspoken views, the Rocket has received many warnings and sanctions from snookers governing body for his actions over the years. But he also risked fury from Brexiteers by appearing to plaster outspoken views on the historic decision to leave the EU on social media.

Just one day after the EU referendum, in which Britain voted overwhelmingly to Leave, OSullivan tweeted: Time to leave the UK, I think this place is falling apart at the seams, might move to Germany.

But fans did not appear to be on his side.

One reply read: Ronnie, I love you, but farewell.

Another questioned: Please tell me youre joking, Ron?

And a third poked: Bye-bye, nice to have our country back.

Born in Wordsley in the West Midlands, O'Sullivan grew up in the Manor Road area of Chigwell, Essex where he still lives.

While he might not be moving to Angela Merkel's nation just yet, OSullivan appears to have remained stubborn with his forecast that Britain will be snookered without the EU.

In 2019 he seemed to give a broader explanation.

He wrote on Twitter: I have a feeling Brexit and its chaos is a consequence of years of lies from MPs, and its lack of care for the north of England.

READ MORE:Ronnie OSullivan's plan to lose snooker match and go running instead: 'I don't care'

I imagine the whole world is looking at the UK and thinking, you are bang in trouble now.

While some commentators appeared to agree with his remarks, many quickly shot them down again.

One wrote: Stick to snooker.

Another added: We will be leaving, we can either get on with it or keep moaning about how bad it will be.

A third pointed out: A lot of people down south also voted to leave, its not as simple as north versus south.

A genius with the cue in his hand, OSullivan has also been open in the past about his mental health struggles which threatened to derail his career.

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Snooker was Ronnies life until 14 years ago, when he fought back against his demons, but, despite holding the world number one ranking multiple times, he claims he wishes he never got into the sport.

He said: I never really chose to play snooker, my dad did that for me, and I wish he hadnt.

When I was a kid, I just wanted to have a laugh, potting the odd ball, but Id probably have been happier playing golf or football, or driving cars for a living something outside, with an adrenalin buzz.

Dad was ambitious on my behalf. He sat me down when I was 10 and told me that if I wanted to play the sport I should try to be the best in the world, and if I wanted to do that, I needed to stop mucking around.

He used to compare the snooker hall in Chigwell to a creche it was somewhere he knew Id be safe and stay put, rather than out on the streets causing trouble.

He had spies there, too older members would report back to him if Id got the hump that day and snapped a cue, or wasted my pocket money on the fruit machines.

O'Sullivan's father was jailed in 1992 for murder and the sportsman always been open about how he lost his way during his youth.

He added: By the time I was a teenager I was pretty well drilled, winning tournaments all over the place.

Apart from the past five years, that time between 11 and 15 was probably the best, most consistent snooker Ive played.

Everything went a bit wrong in the following two decades. If that 15 or 16-year-old could see what Im like now, hed probably think Id done OK.

But he also admitted during the 2016 interview with the Telegraph that it was not all about winning trophies for him.

He continued: Throughout my life, Ive never been bothered by the records or titles.

I always want to be the best I can, but I basically play snooker in the same way I did as a kid just trying to pull off good shots.

Its why Ive dropped in and out of the game trophies are fun for about five seconds. I prefer the art of it; some days its good, other days its not.

I think teenage Ronnie would have some grudging respect for some of the breaks on my YouTube highlight reel, though its probably nothing he couldnt have done.

To safeguard a balanced lifestyle, OSullivan has trained his focus on a new hobby running.

He now enjoys jogging in Hainault Forest and by the coast at Leigh on Sea, not feeling shackled to the table any longer, and religiously cooks for one hour a day.

OSullivan does not run competitively any more, putting that distraction from his snooker career behind him as he looks to bag his sixth World Championship title this summer.

OSullivan and Ding Junhui met in the second round last night, and are tied 4-4 as they return to the table later today.

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Ronnie O'Sullivans moving to Germany Brexit confession after years of lies from MPs - Express

Have your cake and eat it too, so long as they’re GMO: 5 Reasons GMO should be on your shopping list – SynBioBeta

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Impossible Burger is a household name best recognized for its successful introduction of a plant-based burger that bleeds and has no animal hormones or antibiotics. But, there is another notable first for Impossible Burgerit is the first product in stores to adopt the new USDA-approved bioengineered GMO (genetically modified organism) product label that will soon be federally-mandated. This puts a spotlight on a major debate: the safety of GMO products.

While there have been no proven documented cases of GMOs causing harm in humans or animals, numerous studies show that consumers generally dont understand or lack familiarity with GMOs and are decidedly wary to try products that are genetically engineered.

For example, the pro-GMO organization GMO Answers found that 70% of adults dont really know what GMOs are, and less than a third are comfortable having GMOs in their food. While nearly half of U.S. consumers say they would change their consumption habits to reduce their impact on the environment, its worth noting that organic and natural certifications are anti-GMO, creating an increasingly significant dilemma. Plus a new Regenerative Organic Certification adds soil health, animal welfare and farmer economics to organics, but remains unappreciative that GMOs are a major lever to achieve these new goals. While modern genetic engineering is a key enabler of sustainability, food security and health, many consumers automatically look at GMO labels unfavorably.

There continues to be a serious divide between the scientific community and consumer audiences, certifying that authorities are failing to mediate properly and consumers are receiving an inadequate education on the pros and cons of GMOs. As a hero technology for sustainability, nourishing the population, and supporting farmer economics, GMOs fall victim to a misguided negative perception and are actually quite aligned with prevailing consumer demands.

Here are five considerations to put myths to rest and make the case for GMOs:

A GMO has had its DNA altered or modified in some way through genetic engineering. Approximately 60% of all processed foods on supermarket shelves contain GMO ingredients and, according to the USDA, 94% of soy and 92% of corn grown in the United States is GMO. Additionally, more than 90% of the corn and soy harvested for feed utilized in the production of livestock is GMO.

Humans have been altering the genetic makeup of plants for millennia, keeping seeds from the best crops and planting them in following years, selective breeding and crossbreeding, and conducting induced mutation to enable new varieties of crops that taste sweeter, grow bigger, and last longer. It is the technique of genetic-engineering that is newmodern genetic engineering utilizes biotechnology to intentionally direct a targeted change in a plant, animal, or microbial gene sequence to achieve a specific result.

Take for instance watermelon. The watermelons we eat today contrast starkly with those depicted in a 17th-century painting by Italian artist Giovanni Stanchi. Over time, genetic modification through selective breeding has enabled watermelons of more consistent shape, fewer seeds, increased water and sugar, and bright, red flesh. Which version would you rather eat? Chances are, youd choose the modern variety, which is also the more profitable type for the farmer and higher performing in terms of yield and nutrition.

GMO products undergo more rigorous testing than other foods we consume and are screened for toxins, allergens, nutrients, and proteins to make sure they are safe for human consumption. Additionally, Hundreds of digestion and safety studies examining the effects of feeding genetically engineered crops to various food-producing animal species revealed no disturbance to nutritional value, quality, or health. Regarding environmental safety, GMOs enable decreased reliance on chemical sprays that are harmful to soil and water run-off, and are controlled to mitigate gene flow.

Our food system has reached a pivotal moment. The United Nations estimates our global population will reach 9.7 billion by 2050, all of whom will depend on access to safe, nourishing, and affordable food, which the system today cannot support due to limited land, water scarcity, disease resistance, and climate change. If we are to dramatically improve production, we need to be able to improve yields across current acreage, expand farming in new regions and soil types, grow crops that can tolerate destructive weeds, pests, and molds, and perform in a changing climate. Next-gen biotechnology allows us to do this with greater success, speeds, safety and leads to novel breakthroughs in sustainable methods of production.

820 million people globally are malnourished and biotechnology is the best toolset in our arsenal for addressing the urgent problems of food shortage and hunger, globally. As an example, a 1995 report by the World Health Organization, estimated that more than 254 million children of preschool ages across 60 countries suffered from vitamin A deficiency, which can lead to permanent blindness and death. In 1999 a team of scientists leveraged GMO-based biofortification to introduce two daffodil genes and one bacterial gene into rice plants that enable the staple crop to produce in its grains beta-carotene, a building block of vitamin A. The result was a genetically-engineered crop carrying a promise to prevent millions of deaths and alleviate the suffering of children and adults afflicted with vitamin A deficiency and micronutrient malnutrition in developing countries.

Consumers are plagued by prolific misinformation throughout the food industry. GMOs are just one variable in a complicated web that includes organic, all-natural, free-range, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and a cornucopia of others that consumers navigate with varying degrees of accuracy to settle on a food ideology.

As experts and food system stakeholders, the onus is on us to better facilitate the communication between consumers and producers, as well as credibly separate myth from fact while in pursuit of feeding everyone sustainably. Consumers are increasingly shopping with purpose and we need to help them be unconflicted and successful.

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Have your cake and eat it too, so long as they're GMO: 5 Reasons GMO should be on your shopping list - SynBioBeta

Biotechnology Could Change the Cattle Industry. Will it Succeed? – Undark Magazine

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When Ralph Fisher, a Texas cattle rancher, set eyes on one of the worlds first cloned calves in August 1999, he didnt care what the scientists said: He knew it was his old Brahman bull, Chance, born again. About a year earlier, veterinarians at Texas A&M extracted DNA from one of Chances moles and used the sample to create a genetic double. Chance didnt live to meet his second self, but when the calf was born, Fisher christened him Second Chance, convinced he was the same animal.

Scientists cautioned Fisher that clones are more like twins than carbon copies: The two may act or even look different from one another. But as far as Fisher was concerned, Second Chance was Chance. Not only did they look identical from a certain distance, they behaved the same way as well. They ate with the same odd mannerisms; laid in the same spot in the yard. But in 2003, Second Chance attacked Fisher and tried to gore him with his horns. About 18 months later, the bull tossed Fisher into the air like an inconvenience and rammed him into the fence. Despite 80 stitches and a torn scrotum, Fisher resisted the idea that Second Chance was unlike his tame namesake, telling the radio program This American Life that I forgive him, you know?

In the two decades since Second Chance marked a genetic engineering milestone, cattle have secured a place on the front lines of biotechnology research. Today, scientists around the world are using cutting-edge technologies, from subcutaneous biosensors to specialized food supplements, in an effort to improve safety and efficiency within the $385 billion global cattle meat industry. Beyond boosting profits, their efforts are driven by an imminent climate crisis, in which cattle play a significant role, and growing concern for livestock welfare among consumers.

Gene editing stands out as the most revolutionary of these technologies. Although gene-edited cattle have yet to be granted approval for human consumption, researchers say tools like Crispr-Cas9 could let them improve on conventional breeding practices and create cows that are healthier, meatier, and less detrimental to the environment. Cows are also being given genes from the human immune system to create antibodies in the fight against Covid-19. (The genes of non-bovine livestock such as pigs and goats, meanwhile, have been hacked to grow transplantable human organs and produce cancer drugs in their milk.)

But some experts worry biotech cattle may never make it out of the barn. For one thing, theres the optics issue: Gene editing tends to grab headlines for its role in controversial research and biotech blunders. Crispr-Cas9 is often celebrated for its potential to alter the blueprint of life, but that enormous promise can become a liability in the hands of rogue and unscrupulous researchers, tempting regulatory agencies to toughen restrictions on the technologys use. And its unclear how eager the public will be to buy beef from gene-edited animals. So the question isnt just if the technology will work in developing supercharged cattle, but whether consumers and regulators will support it.

Cattle are catalysts for climate change. Livestock account for an estimated 14.5 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, of which cattle are responsible for about two thirds, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). One simple way to address the issue is to eat less meat. But meat consumption is expected to increase along with global population and average income. A 2012 report by the FAO projected that meat production will increase by 76 percent by 2050, as beef consumption increases by 1.2 percent annually. And the United States is projected to set a record for beef production in 2021, according to the Department of Agriculture.

For Alison Van Eenennaam, an animal geneticist at the University of California, Davis, part of the answer is creating more efficient cattle that rely on fewer resources. According to Van Eenennaam, the number of dairy cows in the United States decreased from around 25 million in the 1940s to around 9 million in 2007, while milk production has increased by nearly 60 percent. Van Eenennaam credits this boost in productivity to conventional selective breeding.

You dont need to be a rocket scientist or even a mathematician to figure out that the environmental footprint or the greenhouse gases associated with a glass of milk today is about one-third of that associated with a glass of milk in the 1940s, she says. Anything you can do to accelerate the rate of conventional breeding is going to reduce the environmental footprint of a glass of milk or a pound of meat.

Modern gene-editing tools may fuel that acceleration. By making precise cuts to DNA, geneticists insert or remove naturally occurring genes associated with specific traits. Some experts insist that gene editing has the potential to spark a new food revolution.

The question isnt just if the technology will work in developing supercharged cattle, but whether consumers and regulators will support it.

Jon Oatley, a reproductive biologist at Washington State University, wants to use Crispr-Cas9 to fine tune the genetic code of rugged, disease-resistant, and heat-tolerant bulls that have been bred to thrive on the open range. By disabling a gene called NANOS2, he says he aims to eliminate the capacity for a bull to make his own sperm, turning the recipient into a surrogate for sperm-producing stem cells from more productive prized stock. These surrogate sires, equipped with sperm from prize bulls, would then be released into range herds that are often genetically isolated and difficult to access, and the premium genes would then be transmitted to their offspring.

Furthermore, surrogate sires would enable ranchers to introduce desired traits without having to wrangle their herd into one place for artificial insemination, says Oatley. He envisions the gene-edited bulls serving herds in tropical regions like Brazil, the worlds largest beef exporter and home to around 200 million of the approximately 1.5 billion head of cattle on Earth.

Brazils herds are dominated by Nelore, a hardy breed that lacks the carcass and meat quality of breeds like Angus but can withstand high heat and humidity. Put an Angus bull on a tropical pasture and hes probably going to last maybe a month before he succumbs to the environment, says Oatley, while a Nelore bull carrying Angus sperm would have no problem with the climate.

The goal, according to Oatley, is to introduce genes from beefier bulls into these less efficient herds, increasing their productivity and decreasing their overall impact on the environment. We have shrinking resources, he says, and need new, innovative strategies for making those limited resources last.

Oatley has demonstrated his technique in mice but faces challenges with livestock. For starters, disabling NANOS2 does not definitively prevent the surrogate bull from producing some of its own sperm. And while Oatley has shown he can transplant sperm-producing cells into surrogate livestock, researchers have not yet published evidence showing that the surrogates produce enough quality sperm to support natural fertilization. How many cells will you need to make this bull actually fertile? asks Ina Dobrinski, a reproductive biologist at the University of Calgary who helped pioneer germ cell transplantation in large animals.

But Oatleys greatest challenge may be one shared with others in the bioengineered cattle industry: overcoming regulatory restrictions and societal suspicion. Surrogate sires would be classified as gene-edited animals by the Food and Drug Administration, meaning theyd face a rigorous approval process before their offspring could be sold for human consumption. But Oatley maintains that if his method is successful, the sperm itself would not be gene-edited, nor would the resulting offspring. The only gene-edited specimens would be the surrogate sires, which act like vessels in which the elite sperm travel.

Even so, says Dobrinski, Thats a very detailed difference and Im not sure how that will work with regulatory and consumer acceptance.

In fact, American attitudes towards gene editing have been generally positive when the modification is in the interest of animal welfare. Many dairy farmers prefer hornless cows horns can inflict damage when wielded by 1,500-pound animals so they often burn them off in a painful process using corrosive chemicals and scalding irons. In a study published last year in the journal PLOS One, researchers found that most Americans are willing to consume food products from cows genetically modified to be hornless.

Still, experts say several high-profile gene-editing failures in livestock and humans in recent years may lead consumers to consider new biotechnologies to be dangerous and unwieldy.

In 2014, a Minnesota startup called Recombinetics, a company with which Van Eenennaams lab has collaborated, created a pair of cross-bred Holstein bulls using the gene-editing tool TALENs, a precursor to Crispr-Cas9, making cuts to the bovine DNA and altering the genes to prevent the bulls from growing horns. Holstein cattle, which almost always carry horned genes, are highly productive dairy cows, so using conventional breeding to introduce hornless genes from less productive breeds can compromise the Holsteins productivity. Gene editing offered a chance to introduce only the genes Recombinetics wanted. Their hope was to use this experiment to prove that milk from the bulls female progeny was nutritionally equivalent to milk from non-edited stock. Such results could inform future efforts to make Holsteins hornless but no less productive.

The experiment seemed to work. In 2015, Buri and Spotigy were born. Over the next few years, the breakthrough received widespread media coverage, and when Buris hornless descendant graced the cover of Wired magazine in April 2019, it did so as the ostensible face of the livestock industrys future.

But early last year, a bioinformatician at the FDA ran a test on Buris genome and discovered an unexpected sliver of genetic code that didnt belong. Traces of bacterial DNA called a plasmid, which Recombinetics used to edit the bulls genome, had stayed behind in the editing process, carrying genes linked to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. After the agency published its findings, the media reaction was swift and fierce: FDA finds a surprise in gene-edited cattle: antibiotic-resistant, non-bovine DNA, read one headline. Part cow, part bacterium? read another.

Recombinetics has since insisted that the leftover plasmid DNA was likely harmless and stressed that this sort of genetic slipup is not uncommon.

Is there any risk with the plasmid? I would say theres none, says Tad Sonstegard, president and CEO of Acceligen, a Recombinetics subsidiary. We eat plasmids all the time, and were filled with microorganisms in our body that have plasmids. In hindsight, Sonstegard says his teams only mistake was not properly screening for the plasmid to begin with.

While the presence of antibiotic-resistant plasmid genes in beef probably does not pose a direct threat to consumers, according to Jennifer Kuzma, a professor of science and technology policy and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University, it does raise the possible risk of introducing antibiotic-resistant genes into the microflora of peoples digestive systems. Although unlikely, organisms in the gut could integrate those genes into their own DNA and, as a result, proliferate antibiotic resistance, making it more difficult to fight off bacterial diseases.

The lesson that I think is learned there is that science is never 100 percent certain, and that when youre doing a risk assessment, having some humility in your technology product is important, because you never know what youre going to discover further down the road, she says. In the case of Recombinetics. I dont think there was any ill intent on the part of the researchers, but sometimes being very optimistic about your technology and enthusiastic about it causes you to have blinders on when it comes to risk assessment.

The FDA eventually clarified its results, insisting that the study was meant only to publicize the presence of the plasmid, not to suggest the bacterial DNA was necessarily dangerous. Nonetheless, the damage was done. As a result of the blunder,a plan was quashed forRecombinetics to raise an experimental herd in Brazil.

Sometimes being very optimistic about your technology and enthusiastic about it causes you to have blinders on when it comes to risk assessment.

Backlash to the FDA study exposed a fundamental disagreement between the agency and livestock biotechnologists. Scientists like Van Eenennaam, who in 2017 received a $500,000 grant from the Department of Agriculture to study Buris progeny, disagree with the FDAs strict regulatory approach to gene-edited animals. Typical GMOs are transgenic, meaning they have genes from multiple different species, but modern gene-editing techniques allow scientists to stay roughly within the confines of conventional breeding, adding and removing traits that naturally occur within the species. That said, gene editing is not yet free from errors and sometimes intended changes result in unintended alterations, notes Heather Lombardi, division director of animal bioengineering and cellular therapies at the FDAs Center for Veterinary Medicine. For that reason, the FDA remains cautious.

Theres a lot out there that I think is still unknown in terms of unintended consequences associated with using genome-editing technology, says Lombardi. Were just trying to get an understanding of what the potential impact is, if any, on safety.

Bhanu Telugu, an animal scientist at the University of Maryland and president and chief science officer at the agriculture technology startup RenOVAte Biosciences, worries that biotech companies will migrate their experiments to countries with looser regulatory environments. Perhaps more pressingly, he says strict regulation requiring long and expensive approval processes may incentivize these companies to work only on traits that are most profitable, rather than those that may have the greatest benefit for livestock and society, such as animal well-being and the environment.

What company would be willing to spend $20 million on potentially alleviating heat stress at this point? he asks.

On a windy winter afternoon, Raluca Mateescu leaned against a fence post at the University of Floridas Beef Teaching Unit while a Brahman heifer sniffed inquisitively at the air and reached out its tongue in search of unseen food. Since 2017, Mateescu, an animal geneticist at the university, has been part of a team studying heat and humidity tolerance in breeds like Brahman and Brangus (a mix between Brahman and Angus cattle). Her aim is to identify the genetic markers that contribute to a breeds climate resilience, markers that might lead to more precise breeding and gene-editing practices.

In the South, Mateescu says, heat and humidity are a major problem. That poses a stress to the animals because theyre selected for intense production to produce milk or grow fast and produce a lot of muscle and fat.

Like Nelore cattle in South America, Brahman are well-suited for tropical and subtropical climates, but their high tolerance for heat and humidity comes at the cost of lower meat quality than other breeds. Mateescu and her team have examined skin biopsies and found that relatively large sweat glands allow Brahman to better regulate their internal body temperature. With funding from the USDAs National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the researchers now plan to identify specific genetic markers that correlate with tolerance to tropical conditions.

If were selecting for animals that produce more without having a way to cool off, were going to run into trouble, she says.

A Brahman cow at the University of Floridas Beef Teaching Unit. Visual: Dyllan Furness

There are other avenues in biotechnology beyond gene editing that may help reduce the cattle industrys footprint. Although still early in their development, lab-cultured meats may someday undermine todays beef producers by offering consumers an affordable alternative to the conventionally grown product, without the animal welfare and environmental concerns that arise from eating beef harvested from a carcass.

Other biotech techniques hope to improve the beef industry without displacing it. In Switzerland, scientists at a startup called Mootral are experimenting with a garlic-based food supplement designed to alter the bovine digestive makeup to reduce the amount of methane they emit. Studies have shown the product to reduce methane emissions by about 20 percent in meat cattle, according to The New York Times.

In order to adhere to the Paris climate agreement, Mootrals owner, Thomas Hafner, believes demand will grow as governments require methane reductions from their livestock producers. We are working from the assumption that down the line every cow will be regulated to be on a methane reducer, he told The New York Times.

Meanwhile, a farm science research institute in New Zealand, AgResearch, hopes to target methane production at its source by eliminating methanogens, the microbes thought to be responsible for producing the greenhouse gas in ruminants. The AgResearch team is attempting to develop a vaccine to alter the cattle guts microbial composition, according to the BBC.

Genomic testing may also allow cattle producers to see what genes calves carry before theyre born, according to Mateescu, enabling producers to make smarter breeding decisions and select for the most desirable traits, whether it be heat tolerance, disease resistance, or carcass weight.

Despite all these efforts, questions remain as to whether biotech can ever dramatically reduce the industrys emissions or afford humane treatment to captive animals in resource-intensive operations. To many of the industrys critics, including environmental and animal rights activists, the very nature of the practice of rearing livestock for human consumption erodes the noble goal of sustainable food production. Rather than revamp the industry, these critics suggest alternatives such as meat-free diets to fulfill our need for protein. Indeed, data suggests many young consumers are already incorporating plant-based meats into their meals.

Ultimately, though, climate change may be the most pressing issue facing the cattle industry, according to Telugu of the University of Maryland, which received a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to improve productivity and adaptability in African cattle. We cannot breed our way out of this, he says.

Dyllan Furness is a Florida-based science and technology journalist. His work has appeared in Quartz, OneZero, and PBS, among other outlets.

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Biotechnology Could Change the Cattle Industry. Will it Succeed? - Undark Magazine

Nick Jonas talks about visiting year 3000 and seeing people in masks, Internet asks ‘why did you come back?’ – MEAWW

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American singer Nick Jonas is singing some different tunes off late. Judging by his social media activity, the Internet thinks he has allowed his imagination to run a bit wild. The 27-year-old singer tweeted on August 9, Ive been to the year 3000 not much has changed, except everyone was wearing a mask. In his Instagram post for the same, he added as caption 'And your great great great granddaughter was doing fine'.

Ive been to the year 3000 not much has changed, except everyone was wearing a mask.

He probably meant to stress on the longevity of the coronavirus pandemic that has hit the world and that the future looks too bleak. But it seems like his social awareness joke on the pandemic and human negligence evident from people not wearing masks in public is not being taken seriously by the Internet. The actor has become a butt of jokes on Twitter as people think it is pretentious humor. Hahaha oh nick you so funny, wrote one.

Actor-director Jason Marsden tweeted on how he expected better content from the singer/actor and said he is clearly a Jonas Brothers ignorant. What? Im sorry I didnt realize I was following Nick Jonas. Is this the kind of content I should be expecting?. Further, he said, Clearly...Im a #JonasBrosIngnorant.

What? Im sorry I didnt realize I was following Nick Jonas. Is this the kind of content I should be expecting?

Others went as far as saying that theyd want to simply die if the pandemic is to follow us in a futuristic year 3000. If we still have to wear masks in the year 3000 Im yeeting myself off a cliff, wrote one.

Many didn't leave a chance to mock Nicks 2013 song with Jonas Brothers named Year 3000. The futuristic song is about time travel through a time machine into year 3000 where people have begun to live underwater. Well if Busted are to be believed in the year 3000 we live underwater! So your choices are we have masks on, we evolved, or we did genetic engineering, wrote one.

Well if busted are to be believed in the year 3000 we live under water! So your choices are we have masks on, we evolved, or we did genetic engineering

Another one retorted about the song saying, "The Year 3000" was sung by the Jonas Brothers, so yeah, it's his song. How dare someone reference a song that they took part in creating. Blasphemy.

"The Year 3000" was sung by the Jonas Brothers, so yeah, it's his song. How dare someone reference a song that they took part in creating. Blasphemy.

Many people started to compare him with old members in the family-like Grandpa after such a time-traveling tweet. Went through my grandpa's yearbook from 1958 and saw someone familiar.. maybe he really did time travel. Quite a few trolled the singer for his observation with one saying: 'If you were in the year 3000, why did you come back?'

, if you were in the year 3000, why did you come back?

However, there were others who took his advice in the true spirit reminding others about the importance of wearing masks to stop the spread of the pandemic or else we could be seeing this scenario being played out in year 3000 as well. "You heard the man. wear a damn mask unless you want to still be wearing one in the year 3000," reasoned one fan.

you heard the man. wear a damn mask unless you want to still be wearing one in the year 3000.

Nick's been keeping the audience engaged on social media through the lockdown. Recently, he tweeted about welcoming a pet dog in the family, while posting a gushing picture with wife Priyanka Chopra and the new member leaving his followers melting into a puddle. Welcome to the family Panda! Panda is a Husky Australian Shepard mix rescue and were already in love.

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Nick Jonas talks about visiting year 3000 and seeing people in masks, Internet asks 'why did you come back?' - MEAWW

Discovery Could Lead to More Potent Garlic, Boosting Flavor and Aroma – SciTechDaily

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Hannah Valentino, left, and Pablo Sobrado, right, uncover a new step in the process that makes garlic potent. Credit: Virginia Tech

For centuries, people around the world have used garlic as a spice, natural remedy, and pest deterrent but they didnt know how powerful or pungent the heads of garlic were until they tasted them.

This information changes the whole story about how garlic could be improved. Hannah Valentino, a Ph.D. candidate in the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

But what if farmers were able to grow garlic and know exactly how potent it would be? What if buyers could pick their garlic based on its might?

A team of Virginia Tech researchers recently discovered a new step in the metabolic process that produces the enzyme allicin, which leads to garlics delectable flavor and aroma, a finding that upends decades of previous scientific belief. Their work could boost the malodorous yet delicious characteristics that garlic-lovers the world over savor.

This information changes the whole story about how garlic could be improved or we could make the compounds responsible for its unique flavor, said Hannah Valentino, a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ph.D. candidate. This could lead to a new strain of garlic that would produce more flavor.

The discovery of this pathway opens the door for better control of production and more consistent crops, which would help farmers. Garlic could be sold as strong or weak, depending on consumer preferences.

The research was recently published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Hannah Valentino, left, and Pablo Sobrado, right, are conducting research that is laying the foundation for a future in which buyers can choose garlic based on its strength and flavor profile. Credit: Virginia Tech

When Valentino, an Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science doctoral fellow, and her team set out to test the generally accepted biological process that creates allicin, they found it just didnt happen.

Thats when the team of researchers set out to discover what was really happening in garlic.

As they peeled back the layers, they realized there was no fuel to power the previously accepted biological process that creates allicin.

By using rational design, Hannah found a potential substrate, said Pablo Sobrado, professor of biochemistry in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and a member of the research team. This is significant because by finding the metabolic pathway and understanding how the enzyme actually works and its structure gives us a blueprint of how allicin is created during biosynthesis.

Valentino and the team which included undergraduate students worked in the Sobrado Lab in the Fralin Life Sciences Institute directly with the substrates that comprise garlic, doing their work solely in vitro.

The researchers found that allicin, the component that gives garlic its smell and flavor, was produced by an entirely different biosynthetic process. Allyl-mercaptan reacts with flavin-containing monooxygenase, which then becomes allyl-sulfenic acid.

Importantly, the allicin levels can be tested, allowing farmers to know the strength of their crops without the need for genetic engineering. Greater flavor can simply be predicted, meaning powerful garlic could simply be bred or engineered.

We have a basic understanding of the biosynthesis of allicin that it is involved in flavor and smell, but we also now understand an enzyme that we can try to modulate, or a modify, to increase or decrease the level of the flavor molecules based on these biological processes, Sobrado said.

Because of their work, the future awaits for fields of garlic harsh enough to keep even the most terrifying vampires at bay.

There is a video with more information on this research.

Reference: Structure and function of a flavin-dependent S-monooxygenase from garlic (Allium sativum) by Hannah Valentino, Ashley C. Campbell, Jonathan P. Schuermann, Nazneen Sultana, Han G Nam, Sophie LeBlanc, John J. Tanner and Pablo Sobrado, 11 June 2020, Journal of Biological Chemistry.DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA120.014484

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GentiBio Joins Cell Therapy Chase With $20M and New Treg Technology – Xconomy

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One of the challenges facing cell therapy developers is collecting enough cells to produce a viable treatment. Its a particularly pronounced problem for therapies employing regulatory T cells (Tregs), a type of immune cell thats relatively scarce in the blood, says GentiBio CEO Adel Nada.

Some biotech companies are developing Treg cell therapies from a patients own Tregs. GentiBio makes its Treg therapeutic candidates from an entirely different type of immune cell, and Nada says this approach could make Treg cell therapy production more scalable. On Wednesday, the Boston-based startup announced its launch backed by $20 million in funding.

The immune system is comprised of many different types of cells that have different functions. For example, T cells seek out and destroy pathogens, and they also prompt other immune cells to mount a response. Tregs do the opposite, regulating or suppressing an excessive immune response. Such overreactions are associated with some autoimmune disorders, making Treg cell therapies promising as a way to treat them.

Rather than harvesting a patients Tregs, engineering those cells, and then multiplying them in a lab, GentiBio works with immune cells called CD4+, which are also known as helper T cells. In addition to playing multiple roles in an immune response, these cells are abundant in the blood. GentiBio uses genetic engineering techniques to make Treg-like cells from CD4+ cells. Scientists have already shown that this approach can work in animals. Not only has the technology produced these engineered Tregs, but these cells have also shown the potential to address graft-versus-host disease and encephalitis in mice. Results were published in June in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

GentiBios Tregs are engineered with additional features. Attaching a T-cell receptor to these cells enables them to target specific tissues, Nada says. He adds that synthetic biology technology helps these cells survive longer than typical Tregs. Once infused into a patient, these cells would be tunable, meaning that their numbers could be dialed up or down to the level needed to treat a particular disease. Nada declined to disclose his companys disease targets, other than to say that they are autoimmune diseases of high unmet medical need.

A growing number of companies are researching Treg therapies as a way to treat various diseases. Sonoma Biosciences launched in February, revealing $40 million in Series A financing and its plans to engineer cell therapies from a patients own Tregs. The startup, which splits its operations between South San Francisco and Seattle, has not disclosed its disease targets but co-founder and CEO Jeffrey Bluestone told Xconomy that in addition to autoimmune disorders, the companys approach has potential applications in treating cancer and neurodegeneration.

Pandion Therapeutics (NASDAQ: PAND) is developing drugs intended to treat disease by multiplying Tregs throughout the body without activating inflammatory cells. Last month, the Watertown, MA-based biotechs IPO raised $135 million, part of which will support PT101, the companys lead drug candidate that is currently in early-stage testing in moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. San Francisco-based Orca Biosciences is developing proprietary mixtures of various types of immune cells, including Tregs, to address disease. One of its programs, a combination of T cells and Tregs, is currently in Phase 1/2 testing in blood cancers.

GentiBios approach can be used to make Treg therapies from a patients own cells, as well as off-the-shelf therapies produced from the cells of healthy donors. Nada says its too early to talk about which type the company is developing. The companys research is based on technologies licensed from Seattle Childrens Hospital and Research Institute, the Virginia Mason Health System-affiliated Benaroya Research Institute in Seattle, and Israels MIGAL Galilee Research Institute.

With the academic collaborators weve been working with, weve generated preclinical data that can support regulatory filings [for clinical trials], Nada says. We have assets that allow us to steadfastly march to the clinic, at a pace that is not what you would expect from an academically grown asset.

GentiBios financing, a seed round, was led by OrbiMed, Novartis Venture Fund, and RA Capital Management. Nada says the new cash enables his company to build infrastructure, including manufacturing, to support early-phase clinical testing in two indications, as well as non-clinical research for its other programs. GentiBio will need to raise more money next year to support those additional programs, Nada says.

Photo by Flickr user Alachua County via a Creative Commons license

Frank Vinluan is an Xconomy editor based in Research Triangle Park. You can reach him at fvinluan@xconomy.com.

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Diving into the fascinating space of genome sequencing – BSI bureau

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Although the revolutionary genome sequencing and DNA studies have sparked several innovations, there are, in all fairness, limited practical applications

The idea of untreatable diseases has always given humans the run for their money. In almost all phases of evolution, human health has been prioritized and it is only through innovations and health-IT that we do have ammunition for treatment at our disposal. The genome sequencing is one such healthcare concept that has opened up a whole new world of practicalities and possibilities.

With applications in cancer treatment and potential in treating epidemics, future predictions are now pouring in rapidly. Among the myriad of fascinating concepts across the world, genome sequencing is listed above several other technologies.

With massive investments in studies and research activities associated with this concept, the worldwide genomics market will cross $62 billion in seven years, as predicted by Fortune Business Insights in its latest report on Genomics.

Where it all began

As humans evolved, the standards of living were raised. Although it took an awful lot of time for us to realize we needed a civilized lifestyle to survive, we did eventually settle on a particular set of rules. In true retrospect, the civilized standard of living is what enlightened education and the concept of research and studies in general. It wasnt until a few hundred years ago, that humans moved on from the hunched way of living. With further evolution, along came a few revolutionary innovations that truly defined the shape of the world. As humans discovered the way to maximize on technology, the world became a closer or connected place as they say, but just like all other things, it did come at a cost.

The idea of connected world or globalization brought along a few negative traits. As people began to explore newer and untapped areas, they were naturally exposed to newer diseases. Globalization certainly amplified the spread of such diseases and with limited medical facilities at our helm; the resulting epidemics became the consequence of our own doing. But even the sheer advances in technology and healthcare werent enough. We realized that all human bodies are different and needed to be addressed in a specific manner. Some of us reacted to certain things and substances differently than others and this is when personalized or precision medicine came into fray.

What Exactly is Precision Medicine and what does Genome Sequencing have to do with this?

It is evident that a large portion of common diseases and conditions are treated with the same medicines and therapeutic approach. Modern physicists are constantly striving to develop personalized medical approach that is more impactful and efficient for the patients they address. The concept of genome sequencing is a primary ingredient to this delicacy that is precision medicine. If there is any weightage to the early predictions, genome sequencing can, in a few years, bring precision medicine for all. With increasing practical theories and clinical studies, there is no shortage of evidence to support the role of genome sequencing and AI in personalized medicine.

Understanding Genome Sequencing

A normal genome sequence is nothing but a sequence of letters that make up a humans DNA. These letters are not just any letters but are used to denote the order of DNA nucleotides in the form of A, T, G, and C, referring to adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosines respectively. Confused Yet? Lets put it this way The human genome is made up of over 3 billion such genomic letters. Without a differentiable sequence, the genomes would be represented by a random combination of letters. This sequence helps scientists identify the genes or DNA of a human being or as they would say in technical terms, decode the human gene. Among all variations in genome sequencing, the next-generation sequencing remains one of the hottest buzzword in the healthcare sector in recent years.

Where Exactly are these Sequences Used?

As we have already established its meaning, let us take a look into where and how these sequences work. A set of pre-defined human genes can be used for a variety of purposes, including building personal or precision proteins, identifying long-lasting problems, and detecting severe conditions at an early stage. But the concept that has made headlines on several frontiers is the use of genome sequencing for study and treatment of complex diseases. This is mainly done by locating the individuality of the disease as a whole; meaning to identify how a particular disease affects a particular human being and then coming up with ways to tackle it. The idea of gene therapy through genome sequencing has opened up newer branches and studies in genetic engineering. Whats more is that these sequences are now being studied beyond just the bracket of treatment, and new ways are being developed to even prevent the disease in its entirety. To put it in a clearer context, genetic diseases such as diabetes can be detected and dealt with very early in life. Although it may sound complex, the general idea behind this concept is to study every human body in a different way and identify ways to tackle damaged genes or areas that are potentially exposed to further damage.

Beyond just A,C,G,TWhere were Currently Getting at with Genome Sequencing?

The applications of DNA sequencing have been expanding rapidly over the past decade. From a scientists perspective, genomics has opened up a whole new world of ideas and we cannot really blame the extensive nature of research that is being going on in this field. With applications in regenerative medicine, the concept has gathered attention from healthcare industries across the world. Among a multitude of diseases that can be studied through genome sequencing, cancer has understandably made the front pages. Global organizations such as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have carried out studies where-in the tumors in several individuals have been sequenced for the purpose of genetic mutations. Each of these individuals tumor is being studied and potentially be treated by personalized or precision genomic treatment.

The recent scenario of genome sequencing, however, has been more exciting. We are already aware of the fact that this concept was used to study the spread of the infamous Ebola virus a few years back. Although we will not be getting into the detailed medical terms, what we can briefly say is that scientists used genome sequencing to identify microbes and track down the pattern of the outbreak and epidemic across the world. As far as were concerned, this was certainly a win for genomic enthusiasts.

Unravelling the Mysteries Surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus outbreak, that originated in Wuhan, China, has now spread all over the world and we cant really pick whos at fault. On one side, humans are responsible for the spread of the disease, but on the other hand, we are entering a state of hesitation for developing vaccination. It is clear that despite the awareness and the general idea of containing and tackling a new disease within the originating area, the manner in which humans are going on about their life, gives us very little room to do so. It looks like we have settled on the idea that we will continue to live through constraints and the fact that were not going to stop travelling, despite the travel bans, a statement that represents much irony.

On the positive side, the advances in healthcare and medicine have given us hope. Having said that, we havent yet tackled the riddle of the Covid-19 pandemic but signs are we might be finally on to something. Concepts such as genome sequencing can be used to track patterns of the epidemic, especially in densely populated countries such as India. The biggest challenge during a nearly uncontrollable epidemic is to identify the origin as well as the pattern of the spread of the disease and genome sequencing, along with other concepts, has certainly helped this cause.

Countless Possibilities Yet Very Few Practicalities; Theres Still work to do.

Although the revolutionary genome sequencing and DNA studies have sparked several innovations, there are, in all fairness, limited practical applications. The depth of existing applications is much more fascinating than the number of applications itself. With genome sequencing finding its way into the ideology for coronavirus treatment, it is safe to say that concepts like these are leaving us with that subconscious safety cushion across several aspects of life. How we handle the ethical side of genetic studies remains to be seen; but the promise and potential held by genome sequencing certainly overpowers such ethical barriers. With applications in areas that were previously deemed unattainable, genome sequencing might just be the answer to a few of our worst nightmares with respect to life-threatening diseases. We can be nothing but excited of what this concept has in store across other areas in healthcare in the coming years.

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Tanay Bhalla is an expert in embedded systems and health-IT sector.

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Diving into the fascinating space of genome sequencing - BSI bureau

Even in a Brave New World, systems are violence – The A.V. Club

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Much of Aldous Huxleys vision of a Brave New World has been borne out: genetic engineering, mood-stabilizing pharmaceuticals, chemical birth control, ubiquitous marketing, and a society given to distraction. When the novel was published in 1932, these ultimately prescient notions placed it squarely in the realm of science fiction. The social stratification in the main setting of New London, on the other hand, was mostly a reflection of a class system thats existed for centuries. What the aristocratic Huxley feared wasnt a world in which there are haves and have-notsthe latter conditioned to never question why things arent equitable. He was much more concerned with the threat that Henry Fords assembly line and vacuous entertainments (sports, movies, etc.) posed to individualism.

Though it was primarily aimed at technological advances instead of a hierarchy indifferent to the inequities it perpetuates, Huxleys critique of systems in Brave New World has proven as enduring as his highly influential novel. This opposition to a predetermined way of lifeone molded by technology rather than religionruns through most adaptations of the book, including the iteration that premiered on Peacock last month. Bernard Marx (Harry Lloyd) expresses insecurity about his Alpha-Plus status, Beta-Plus hatchery worker Lenina Crowne (Jessica Brown Findlay) is vaguely discontent, and their trouble-free existence is disrupted by John (Alden Ehrenreich) of the Savage Lands, who prefers to be himself, not who society says he is.

But David Wieners sprawling, intermittently daring sci-fi drama makes several updates to Huxleys story. World Controller Mustafa Mond (played coolly here by Nina Sosanya) and Helmholtz Watson (now Hannah John-Kamens Helm, an emotions-and-orgy conductor) are rewritten so that they are played by women of color, which adds an interesting texture to their respective storylines. But the most promising developments in this Brave New World look beyond the framework of the source material to tap into real-life challenges to the established order. Wiener ventures into new territory by keeping the locale and introducing new characters. These additions dont just question their place in the worldthey eventually come to interrogate the system that creates a paradise for some and a life of servitude for others. Comfort breeds indifference in the upper castes; even the death of an Epsilon, a member of the lowest-ranking division in New Londons social order, only briefly snaps them out of their soma stupors. This tragedy is viewed as an anomaly thats swiftly corrected by Bernard handing out drugs. The Alphas and Betas go right on about their hedonistic day, as is their duty, their place.

Its this idea of systems and the brutality people enact through themwhich can take the form of redlining, food deserts, and gerrymandering in our worldthat feels most relevant today. When I spoke to the Brave New World cast earlier this summer, the ongoing protests calling for justice for George Floyd and other victims of state-sanctioned violence were already underway. Black Lives Matter was and is on the lips of activists and politicians, and emblazoned on the streets of cities. Huxley wouldnt have aimed his criticism at the government (unless Ford ever held an elected office), but this interpretation of his work has the potential to. I asked members of the cast about the protests, as well as the feeling that Mond and the founders essentially re-created an unjust world.

We all feel that way, certainly when you see these things happening over and over again, Ehrenreich said. This is sci-fi, but its not about escaping. Its really about the world we live in now, just as the novel was about the world we lived in then.

Theres some dissonance in watching Brave New World in the midst of resurgent social justice movements. Its an odd time to indulge in a TV show that explores how entertainment desensitizes us to each others plights, something that Ehrenreich and Sosanya acknowledged. But Brown Findlay stresses that the show allows us to reflect ourselves, to look at how weve constructed things, and asks, Can they be changed? Sen Mitsuji, who plays Alpha-Plus Henry Foster, said Brave New Worlds treatment of discrimination based on birthright or birth status, the context youre born into, things you cant change, ensures it still resonates. [This story] is always going to have a place.

We see that in the story of CJack60 (Joseph Morgan), one of the Epsilons who preserve the Alphas way of life (and, to a lesser extent, that of the Betas). The Alphas will continue to take sex-filled vacations and engage in nightly orgies, indifferent to the people who facilitate their pleasure. Theyll never have to suffer for any of it, John observes in a rage. Nor will they or anyone else question it, thanks to the work of scientists like Lenina and Frannie (Kylie Bunbury, always a welcome presence), who essentially design personalities to suit their caste designation: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon. New Londons citizens were all conceived, in a sense, to play their role in society. Whenever genetic engineering fails them, their conditioning and drugs nudge them back into place.

Like any system, New Londons social body requires a lot of maintenance. Here, thats symbolized by Indra, the kind of highly sophisticated artificial intelligence that ends up doing what all such programs do as they evolve: go rogue. Indra is the other side of this equation of systems and violence. And like the Matrix, Indra attempts to create a reality that keeps humans from actually experiencing life on their own. The machines of the Wachowskis film trilogy are just a tad more insidious, using humans as batteries; but Indra is also siphoning something from the New Londoners, who, via their standard-issue oculinks, are all connected to it (and each other). Indra is taking in their consciousness and memories for some unknown purpose beyond creating a perfect world in New London.

CJack60 represents a threat to the foundation Indras so painstakingly laid. After the death of his fellow Epsilon is waved off as an accident in the premiere, CJack60 starts rethinking his way of life. John acts as a catalyst, but its mostly by accident. Hes only railing against the system because it encourages Lenina to have sex with other people even after she and John exchange I love yous. As John screams to the Epsilons shortly before they revolt, People are not supposed to live like this! They cant tell you who to want! They cant give you some letter and tell you where you fit. He doesnt understand what hes set in motion, but the series doesafter Johns galvanizing speech, the Epsilons all drop their soma dispensers, the metal tubes sounding like bullet casings as they hit the floor. It heralds the bloodshed to come in the seasons final episode, as the Epsilons operate under a new mandate: No one above, no one below.

Wieners Brave New World manages to keep the books specific criticism of systems like utilitarianism in the form of John lashing out and Lenina and Bernard probing the bounds of their prescribed roles, while fomenting an actual revolution. Unfortunately, the show botches this development; the first obvious sign that things arent hunky-dory pops up in the Savage Lands, when Sheila (Kate Fleetwood) snaps John out of his daze. Sheila is leading her own rebellion against the New Londoners, who are titillated by the fake massacres carried out like clockwork in the Savage Landswhich are reimagined for the series as a Westworld-like theme park. She inspires Johns awakening when she urges him to ask himself, What am I? A free human being or a washer of cars? Yet these self-described free people are rarely seen again until the final moments of the season.

Westworlds revolts tend to lose their steam due to the sheer volume of characters and plot; Brave New World suffers from the same scattered focus, as CJack60 disappears for long stretches at a time, which takes some of the power out of his sudden emergence as a leader. But theres no doubt in Morgans mind that his character was already feeling frustration and anger at my oppressors at being forced into this box before John wandered into the Epsilons home. As Morgan told me, CJack60 may have been goaded by John, but he was ultimately like a rocket. When the fuse was lit, he really took off.

The season ends with an untold number of slain Alphas, Betas, and Epsilons (and possibly members of the other castes; its hard to say), a meticulously planned society laid to waste, and little indication of what comes next. Wiener and executive producer Grant Morrison are clearly setting up the next season, sending their three leads in different directions: John to mourn; Lenina to a new new world, one whose story isnt crisis. Along with Helm, Bernard returns to the Savage Lands, with what may be the new version of Indra. Both Bernard and Mond try to blame Indra for the bloody confrontation and many of the events leading up to it, but a system isnt inherently violent; it perpetrates violence when its imbued with the beliefs and goals of its creators. Time and again, were told the social order of New London is both necessaryto prevent future global catastrophesand beneficial to all. But even if its true that the Epsilons arent exactly impoverished, that they have jobs and homes, theyre still disenfranchised. And thats by design. To quote from a different dystopian tale recently adapted for TV, Better never means better for everyone. It always means worse, for some. Mond et al. knowingly established inequities in their society, essentially making their new world in the image of the old.

Despite his fear of what automation would do to workers, Huxley wasnt challenging the social order of his world. When he wrote of people in New London buying into the system, it actually reflected his disdain of indiscriminate mass consumption: Most men and women will grow up to love their servitude and will never dream of revolution. Wieners adaptation picks up on Huxleys fear that people would willingly give away their individuality if the offer were attractive or distracting enough. Though Kylie Bunbury doesnt get nearly enough screentime on Brave New World, her character, Frannie, is at the center of this particular discussion. Frannie is a Beta-Plus like Lenina, and theyve essentially been assigned to be each others best friend. She frequently tries to bring a searching Lenina back into the fold, because on some level, she knows theyre better off playing their parts. But New Londons architects have also designed the life of a Beta-Plus to be so filled with pleasure as to defy rejecting it. Bunbury sees this part of the narrative as the show demonstrating how we can participate in these systems, actively harmful and otherwise.

There is a lot of following the way things are because this is the way that things are, rather than taking a look at things, she said. A lot of it is just unconscious. And if you feed people something enough, theyre going to believe it.

Frannie and Lenina arent the same, despite ostensibly sharing genetic profiles and social standing. There comes a moment in the second half of the season, when the Beta-Plus women play a futuristic version of racquetball, and Lenina mocks her frustrated friend, whos lost several games already. Lenina brags to Frannie that she always comes in first, despite their shared status. She urges her friend to question why. Like its source material, Peacocks Brave New World never addresses how its society evolved past racism. The divisions are purely caste-related, but like so many post-race stories, the series still has primarily white actors in lead roles. When I asked Bunbury if she thinks this confession from Lenina is a subtle acknowledgment of racism even in this supposedly idyllic society, she agreed: I see the genius in Lenina saying, Why do you think you always come second? because that is the truth of the world right now. Its a cluemaybe in the near future, those things will still be going on, even if people are genetically engineered. That was a tough scene in that regard, because I viewed it as a racial situation.

If the show gets picked up for a second season, it will hopefully cease eliding race, a decision thats done The Handmaids Tale no favors. A good portion of the action will likely take place in the Savage Lands, which are located in America. Given the world that Brave New World debuted in, its more important than ever not to ignore that history, and the systems entangled within it. When asked if this adaptation of Huxleys novel challenges people to think about how they uphold systems even as it entertains, Lloyd said, It definitely makes you think about society and the way in which humans can live, and do live, and could live, in terms of becoming part of a system or challenging a system. Thats the next step toward a brave new world for this sci-fi drama.

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Even in a Brave New World, systems are violence - The A.V. Club

Lecturer wins huge award for reining in lethal cereal killer – Daily Nation

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By DAVID ADUDA

The sight of Prof Steven Runo in sorghum fields in Kibos, Alupe or Mbita, all in western Kenya, would be less alluring.

But it is the work in those fields and under the scorching heat of the lake region that saw him win this years Royal Society Africa Prize for the best scientific research.

Prof Runo was last week named the winner of the prestigious Royal Society Arica Prize, which celebrates Africas top scientists who excel in practical research. The award comes with a cash prize of British Sterling Pounds 15,000 or Sh2.1 million for research plus additional personal cash award of British Pounds 2,000s (Sh280,000) and a bronze medal. The prizes will be awarded in London later this year.

The Royal Society Africa Prize 2020 is awarded to Dr Steven Runo for elucidating pathways for long distance RNA trafficking between parasitic plants and their hosts and identifying and developing transgenic protocol for characterising and validating candidate host and parasite genes, the Society said in a statement.

Soft-spoken and reserved, Prof Runo would easily pass for any other lecturer at Kenyatta University. But beneath the veneer is a rare kind of scientist, a believer in action research and strong conviction to use scientific knowledge to make a difference in society.

Acutely aware of the perennial food shortage that afflicts millions of Kenyans and the rest of the continent, his desire is to use his knowledge in plant science to transform agriculture and particularly crop protection to achieve food sufficiency.

Prof Runo is the head of Biochemistry Microbiology and Biotechnology Department at Kenyatta University. His specialty is plant molecular biology. A mouthful, one would say, but which in plain terms means studying the nutrients of plants and using that knowledge to change their biological composition and make them resistant to weeds.

The research that has brought honour and glory to Kenya is on the use of plant nutrients to kill parasites. In scientific terms, it is about controlling parasites using what they call RNA interference. And the parasite in question here is Striga, the pink coloured weed that kills maize, sorghum and millet and largely prevalent in western Kenya. The other name of the parasite is witchweed, literally and appropriately, a killer plant.

Essentially, Prof Runos research involves studying the nutrients that Striga eats from host crops and using that knowledge, graft similar but poisonous variety of the nutrients that is injected in the host crops to make it resistant to parasitic attacks.

Prof Steven Runo (left) demonstrates parasite resistant plants that he has researched on at a greenhouse in Kenyatta University.

The research is concentrated on sorghum, maize and millet, main food crops around the country, but which are vulnerable to Striga attacks. According to agricultural research, Striga is one of the most lethal weeds.

According to Prof Runo, parasitic plants establish what is called vascular connection with the host plant through structures termed haustoria, which allow acquisition of water and nutrients, often to the detriment of the infected host.

The parasitic plant extracts the nutrients from the host plant, either killing it or rendering it unable to produce crops. That is why when Striga strikes a maize farm, for instance, it will strangle the crop and leave the farmer without any yield.

What we do is gene editing, where we study the nutrients that parasitic plants like Striga suck from the host plants and from that, we develop similar biological nutrients, inject them in the host crops and ultimately kill the parasites, says Prof Runo.

The concept, he explains, is similar to what doctors do; that of gene editing. It involves examining the composition of ones DNA and developing similar elements that are injected into human beings to give them immunity against viruses that cause diseases, such as polio vaccination.

The overall objective of our research is to achieve food security, says Prof Runo. We have been working with seed companies to develop crops that are resistant to parasites based on the research we have done.

He adds: My interest is to support farmers and ensure they get value from their sweat.

So, rather than confine his research to KU laboratories and only with his students, Prof Runo has adopted a public-facing approach. He works with Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research (Kalro) centres in Kibos in Kisumu County, Alupe in Busia and Mbita in Homa Bay and seed companies to translate academic research into practical use. The outcome of the research is to benefit farmers.

According to research studies in agriculture, Striga (witchweed) is one of the most lethal pests that affect food production in the tropics. For example, the studies say that in Kenya, the parasite leads to yield losses of between 65 and 100 per cent.

In our context where farmlands are shrinking due to increased population and urbanisation, demand for food is fast rising. In turn, farmers are forced into intense land use that degrade soils. With that, parasites such as Striga are on the increase as they seek places to survive.

This explains the significance of Prof Runos research. It strikes at the heart of what confounds farmers and for which immediate solution is imperative.

Ordinarily, farmers have used pesticides and herbicides to deal with such marauding parasites, but it has since emerged that those practices are in themselves harmful to farmlands in the long run. Moreover, their consistent use also affects farmers.

In an interview with Higher Education, the soft-spoken academician says his research interests are in the fields of parasite control through genetic engineering.

His desire is to translate that knowledge into dealing with weeds that do harm to farmers and make a difference in their lives. Lately, he has developed interest in research on swabs for testing for Covid-19.

Prof Runo believes that the award will inspire more Kenyans to conduct research and in particular, stimulate interest among high school and college students to study sciences.

Importantly, he hopes the award will send a strong statement to the government and other potential funders that Kenya has solid researchers and therefore should be funded to conduct research to provide solutions to challenges of our times.

The research that won him the award was a carry-over from his PhD in Plant Molecular Biology, which he did through a sandwich programme between the University of California, Davis, US and Kenyatta University. Earlier, he did a MSc in biotechnology and a BSc in biochemistry, both at Kenyatta University.

Besides, he did a postdoctoral research in molecular biology at the University of Sheffield in UK. He has also been a visiting researcher in genomics at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville USA.

The Royal Society Africa Prize recognises research scientists based in Africa who are making an innovative contribution to the sciences. The prize was previously the Royal Society Pfizer Award which was last awarded in 2016.

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Lecturer wins huge award for reining in lethal cereal killer - Daily Nation

Mars covered in oceans: what terraformation on the Red Planet might look like – ZME Science

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Credit: Aaditya Raj Bhattarai.

Both from afar and up close, Mars looks like a desolate world that glows in bright red due to the iron-rich dust that covers the planet. However, were it to be terraformed, Mars may very well look like blue marble, similar to Earth.

In a fantastic exercise of imagination and design, a Nepal-based civil engineer mapped out Mars as it might have looked like if 71% of its surface was covered in water.

The visualizations generated by Aaditya Raj Bhattarai are part of his bachelor thesis at Tribhuwan University in Nepal, which immediately rose to fame after he shared them on the MapPorn subreddit. They show two distinct landmasses or continents, one dominated by the 20-km-tall Olympus Mons (the largest volcano in the solar system), the other more covered in flatlands, including planes like Terra Sabaea.

I am [a] big fan of Elon [Musk] and SpaceX and their plan to put man on Mars, and I hope I could help in his cause, Bhattarai told Inverse. This is a part of my side project where I calculate the volume of water required to make life on Mars sustainable and the sources required for those water volumes from comets that will come nearby Mars in [the] next 100 years.

Bhattarai notes that on his maps, the Martian sea level is as low as 963 meters below the geoid level (an approximation of the mean sea level).

Musk had previously alluded to the idea that he would terraform Mars by nuking its poles. Although it may read like satire, he was only half-joking. Later, Musk said a continuous stream of small nuclear explosions above the poles would act like artificial suns, raising the temperature.

The increasing surface temperatures would vaporize some of the carbon dioxide trapped in the south polar cap, which would end up in the atmosphere and further cause more heating. The temperature would be enough to melt the ice and provide liquid water needed to sustain life. The added liquid water would raise the atmospheric pressure to the equivalent of that found in the highest mountaintops on Earth. Although far from being survivable, it would be enough to start growing plants and trees that thrive on CO2 and produce oxygen. In March 2017, scientists grew potatoes in Mars-like soil and conditions akin to Matt Damon in The Martian, so thats doable already.

But even though these images might look enticing, Mars terraforming would be incredibly complex. It might take centuries before Mars looks anything like Earth if such a thing would even be possible in the first place.

Even so, producing an oxygen-rich atmosphere is just the tip of the iceberg. Scientists would still have to find a way to address the myriad other problems like:

Even with this out of the day, theres still the issues that:

Nevertheless, terraforming Mars might be worth pursuing. Who knows what the 22nd century might look like

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Mars covered in oceans: what terraformation on the Red Planet might look like - ZME Science

Donald Trump Jr. has a long history of spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories online – Insider – INSIDER

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Twitter suspended Donald Trump Jr.'s account on July 27 after the president's son posted a viral video with COVID-19 misinformation in it.

The suspension lasted 12 hours before the tweet was removed from the platform and replaced with a banner noting that the tweet violated the platform's COVID-19 misinformation policy.

This instance is just the latest in Don Jr.'s long history of posting misinformation on social media. Since 2016, he has amplified conspiracy theories related to Hillary Clinton, shootings, birtherism, and QAnon-supporting Twitter accounts.

Trump Jr., who was called his father's "ambassador to the fringe" by Politico in 2018, is a popular conservative figure with over 5 million Twitter followers. Republican strategists and pundits have suggested that Trump Jr. may run for president in 2024, though he told Axios in March that he has "no intention" of that. "My only goal and my myopic focus is making sure my father gets re-elected because I want to keep the winning continuing," he said.

A spokesperson for Trump Jr. declined to comment for this article.

The video Trump Jr. shared had spread rapidly on social-media, particularly among conservatives, after the right-wing outlet Breitbart News shared it.

It showed doctors saying that wearing masks is not helpful for preventing the spread of the coronavirus public health experts have repeatedly stated that wearing face coverings helps prevent the spread of the virus and alleged that the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine is a cure for the virus, something that President Trump has touted but experts and the Food and Drug Administration deny based on numerous recent studies.

The star of the video was Stella Immanuel, a doctor who has claimed that alien DNA is used in medicine and "reptilians" are partially controlling the US government, The Daily Beast reported.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump Jr. has continued to share misinformation related to the virus.

In April, Instagram flagged a post that falsely claimed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had called President Trump's travel ban on China a "war on immigrants." The Democratic senator from New York never said that, and screenshots of a purported Schumer tweet were fabricated, Instagram said. Trump Jr. previously shared a doctored Instagram image in 2018 that showed his father's approval rating as higher than it truly was.

Trump Jr. appeared to show support for Alex Jones of Infowars, after the conspiracy theorist was banned from Facebook and YouTube. In August 2018, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut called the Infowars ban the "tip of the iceberg" in social-media companies' work to rid their platforms of "hate and lies."

Trump Jr. quote-tweeted Murphy's statement by connecting Infowars with other "conservative media" platforms. "A Democrat Senator openly admitting that Big Tech's censorship campaign is really about purging all conservative media," he said.

The idea that social-media companies censor conservative voices is something Trump Jr. has claimed before. In April 2018, in response to a shooting at YouTube's headquarters that came after the platform said it would stop promoting videos that advertised the sale of guns, Trump Jr. tweeted a conspiracy theory alleging that YouTube removed the shooter's videos quickly because of her left-leaning views.

But connecting Jones to the conservative-censorship narrative, which is largely speculative, normalizes his extreme conspiracy theories. Jones' incendiary content has included racist and anti-Semitic statements and the false claim that the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, was staged.

Trump Jr. has indicated that he's followed some of those theories, liking multiple conspiratorial tweets about the 2018 mass school shooting in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 people. Jones spread the false conspiracy theory that the Parkland shooting was a false flag operation.

One tweet Trump Jr. liked falsely claimed that the FBI was responsible for the shooting, Vox reported at the time. Another tweet derided David Hogg, a survivor of the shooting who was a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School at the time. Because Hogg's father is a former FBI agent, conspiracy theorists falsely claimed that the teenager had been an anti-Trump US operative in some capacity.

In September 2016, ahead of the presidential election, Trump Jr. aligned himself with Jones when he posted an edited picture of himself and other Trump campaign team members joining forces with Jones, far-right personality Milo Yiannopoulos, and Pepe the Frog, which at the time was increasingly being used as a symbol by the far-right.

Trump Jr. captioned the picture by writing, "I am honored to be grouped with the hard working men and women of this great nation that have supported @realdonaldtrump."

Trump Jr. once shared (before deleting) a false allegation that Democratic Senator Kamala Harris of California was not an "American Black." Harris, who is Black, was born in Oakland, California. In June of 2019, quote-tweeting a thread that explained Harris' roots were in Jamaica, Trump Jr. wrote, "Is this true? Wow."

The tweet, which questioned a Black presidential candidate's heritage, echoed the birtherism conspiracy theories promoted by President Trump that President Barack Obama was not actually born in the US.

In addition to the Harris claim, Trump Jr. has shared misinformation about other Democrats, most notably Hillary Clinton. In 2016, he tweeted an Infowars article falsely alleging that Clinton wore an earpiece during a presidential debate, CNN reported.

He has also retweeted false claims about George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist and Democratic donor.

In 2018, he retweeted two tweets from Roseanne Barr, falsely alleging that Soros, who is Jewish, was a Nazi. "George Soros is a nazi who turned in his fellow Jews 2 be murdered in German concentration camps & stole their wealth," said one of the tweets. Barr later deleted and apologized for her tweets, but Trump Jr. did not address why he had amplified them.

Anti-Soros conspiracy theories are based in anti-Semitism and have spread for years, particularly among far-right communities, The New York Times reported.

Trump Jr. posted a meme on Instagram on May 16 that called presidential candidate Joe Biden a pedophile. The post appeared to be humorous and unserious in nature, but echoed beliefs of QAnon supporters, who often accuse prominent Democrats (and celebrities) of being involved in child sex trafficking.

QAnon is a quickly growing, large conspiracy theory movement that has pushed numerous false allegations about a "deep state" and child sex crimes. Dozens of accounts followed by Trump Jr. include QAnon slogans or references in their Twitter profiles, The New York Times reported in November.

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Donald Trump Jr. has a long history of spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories online - Insider - INSIDER

Transhumanism: The cyborgs and biohackers redefining …

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Written by Karina Tsui, CNN

Today, we can alter our bodies in previously unimaginable ways, whether that's implanting microchips, fitting advanced prosthetic limbs or even designing entirely new senses.

So-called transhumanists -- people who seek to improve their biology by enhancing their bodies with technology -- believe that our natural condition inhibits our experience of the world, and that we can transcend our current capabilities through science.

Ideas that are "technoprogressive" to some are controversial to others. But to photographer David Vintiner, they are something else altogether: beautiful.

Made in collaboration with art director and critic Gem Fletcher, the book features a variety of people who identify, to some degree, as "transhuman" -- including a man with bionic ears that sense changes in atmospheric pressure, a woman who can "feel" earthquakes taking place around the world and technicians who have developed lab-made organs.

Fletcher was first introduced to the transhumanist subculture via the London Futurist Group, an organization that explores how technology can counter future crises. Upon meeting some of its members, the London-based art director approached Vintiner with the idea of photographing them in a series of portraits.

"Our first shoot was with Andrew Vladimirov, a DIY 'brain hacker,'" Vintiner recalled in a phone interview. "Each time we photographed someone new, we asked for referrals and introductions to other key people within the movement."

Redefining human experience

One of Vintiner's subjects, James Young, turned to bionics after losing his arm and leg in an accident in 2012. Young had always been interested in biotechnology and was particularly drawn to the aesthetics of science fiction. Visualizing how his body could be "re-built," or even perform enhanced tasks with the help of the latest technology, became part of his recovery process.

But according to the 29-year-old, the options presented to him by doctors were far from exciting -- standard-issue steel bionic limbs with flesh-colored silicone sleeves.

"To see what was available was the most upsetting part," Young said in a video interview.

"What the human body can constitute, in terms of tools and technology, is such a blurry thing -- if you think about the arm, it's just a sensory piece of equipment.

"If there was anyone who would get their arm and leg chopped off, it would be me because I'm excited about technology and what it can get done."

Japanese gaming giant Konami worked with prosthetics sculptor Sophie de Oliveira Barata to design a set of bionic limbs for Young. The result was an arm and leg made from gray carbon fiber -- an aesthetic partly inspired by Konami's "Metal Gear Solid," one of the then-22-year-old's favorite video games.

Beyond the expected functions, Young's robotic arm features a USB port, a screen displaying his Twitter feed and a retractable dock containing a remote-controlled drone. The limbs are controlled by sensors that convert nerve impulses from Young's spine into physical movements.

"Advanced prosthetics enabled James to change people's perception of (his) disability," said Vintiner of Young, adding: "When you first show people the photographs, they are shocked and disconcerted by the ideas contained within. But if you dissect the ideas, they realize that they are very pragmatic."

Young says it has taken several years for people to appreciate not just the functions of advanced bionic limbs but their aesthetics, too. "Bionic and electronic limbs were deemed scary, purely because of how they looked," he said. "They coincided with the idea that 'disability is not sexy.'"

He also felt there was stigma surrounding bionics, because patients were often given flesh-colored sleeves to conceal their artificial limbs.

"Visually, we think that this is the boundary of the human body," Young said, referring to his remaining biological arm. "Opportunities for transhumanists open up because a bionic arm can't feel pain, or it can be instantly replaced if you have the money. It has different abilities to withstand heat and to not be sunburned."

As Vintiner continued shooting the portraits, he felt many of his preconceptions being challenged. The process also raised a profound question: If technology can change what it is to be human, can it also change what it means to be beautiful?

"Most of my (original) work centers around people -- their behavior, character, quirks and stories," he said. "But this project took the concept of beauty to another level."

Eye of the beholder

Science's impact over our understanding of aesthetics is, to Vintiner, one of the most fascinating aspects of transhumanism. What he discovered, however, was that many in the movement still look toward existing beauty standards as a model for "post-human" perfection.

Speaking to CNN Style in 2018, Hanson said that Sophia's form would resonate with people around the world, and that her appearance was partly inspired by real women including Hanson's wife and Audrey Hepburn, as well as statues of the Egyptian queen Nefertiti.

Related video: Meet Sophia, the robot who smiles and frowns just like us

But with her light hazel eyes, perfectly arched eyebrows, long eyelashes, defined cheekbones and plump lips -- Sophia's appearance arguably epitomizes that of a conventionally beautiful Caucasian woman.

"When I photographed Ben Goertzel, he vocalized how he took no time to consider how he (himself) looked -- it was of no interest to him," the photographer recalled of the photo shoot.

Vintiner saw a certain irony: that someone who was unconcerned about his own appearance would nonetheless project our preoccupation with beauty through his company's invention.

It also served as a reminder that attractiveness may be more complex than algorithms can ever fathom.

"I fear that if we can design humans without any of the 'flaws' that occur in our biological makeup, things will be pushed further and further towards a level of perfection we can only imagine right now." Vintiner said. "Look at how plastic surgery has altered our perception of beauty in a very short space of time.

"If the transhumanists are right and we, as humans, can live to be several hundreds of years old, our notion of beauty and the very meaning of what it is to be human will change dramatically."

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Transhumanism: The cyborgs and biohackers redefining ...

NASA engineer who died from the coronavirus reached this world and beyond – Tampa Bay Times

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Jake Eckardt is starting to sift through the boxes, the papers, the ham radio gear.

John Chitwood, his late husband, loved to build things and take them apart, but he rarely threw anything out.

Eckardt found the letters he wrote to Mr. Chitwood after they met in 1995 at a convention for ham radio operators. They were with other people then but stayed in touch. Eckardt didnt know Mr. Chitwood had saved the letters.

His awards from a 37-year career at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center are scattered about the office, the garden shed and the garage.

And settled onto any available space ham radio gear.

During his life, Mr. Chitwood connected with ham radio operators all over the world. Through his work at NASA on planetary probes and satellites, he helped connect this world to places way beyond it.

Mr. Chitwood, who was hospitalized for a fall and then tested positive for the coronavirus, died June 26. He was 73.

In the mid-1950s, Mr. Chitwoods grandfather brought home a 17-tube, Zenith shortwave radio, and before long, the elementary schooler took over a corner of his fathers workbench and started building ham radios.

His first, brother David Chitwood remembers, was made from a metal file box.

Mr. Chitwood moved on to the radio club in high school at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and got his novice license in ham radio in 1961.

He loved to talk to people, his brother said on the radio, at family events, as a DJ at his college radio station at Drexel University. At 18, through a program between his university and the industry, Mr. Chitwood started working at NASAs Goddard campus in Greenbelt, Md.

There, he spent his career working on new ways to communicate.

At Goddard, Mr. Chitwoods desk was covered with neat towers of papers and technical magazines. He could find anything in those piles quickly, said Michael Powers, who worked for Mr. Chitwood in the Microwave Systems Branch.

Cathy Long worked for him, too, and chose his team when she joined NASA because, as one of the few women there at the time, she thought hed be a supportive boss.

She was right.

He gave his young reports big jobs and hid in the back of group pictures, remember Powers and Long, who are married.

Mr. Chitwood worked on the Cosmic Background Explorer, or COBE. In 2006, two scientists won the Nobel Prize in physics for work that looks back into the infancy of the Universe and attempts to gain some understanding of the origin of galaxies and stars. It is based on measurements made with the help of the COBE satellite launched by NASA in 1989.

John was a major contributor to the success of that mission, Long said.

At work and with family, Mr. Chitwood was intensely private.

We had to be very careful in those days, Eckardt said.

In 2002, Mr. Chitwoods long-time partner died.

More than a decade later, Mr. Chitwood stopped his brother as he started to leave a holiday gathering.

Theres something I have to tell you, he said. Ive fallen in love for the second time in my life.

Mr. Chitwood and Eckardt moved to St. Pete in 2015. They married in 2017.

Here, Eckardt said, they traveled the world, had their best years together, made friends and memories.

One evening, Eckardt remembers, Mr. Chitwood took his husband to stand in the front yard. Eckardt looked up at the night sky. Mr. Chitwood looked down at his watch.

The space station should be coming over the horizon, he said.

There it came, Eckardt said. It was just a little star that flew across the sky.

Were collecting stories of the people weve lost to the coronavirus. Please share suggestions at khare@poynter.org. And read our collection of obituaries here.

Coach G pushed generations of athletes to believe in themselves

Michael Konrad spent his life making his co-workers and community better

Deo Persaud built his life from scratch in Guyana, then did it again in America

Rita Mosely walked miles each day for work and pushed her family much farther

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NASA engineer who died from the coronavirus reached this world and beyond - Tampa Bay Times

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman space telescope will send the hunt for exoplanets into warp speed – Space.com

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A new NASA space observatory could push planet-hunting forward at warp speed by gathering data up to 500 times faster than the venerable Hubble Space Telescope does.

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (formerly known as the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope or WFIRST) passed a key ground-system design review this month, according to NASA. Roman, as the telescope is called in short, relies on technology that was originally built for spy missions on Earth. Instead, after its launch in the mid-2020s, Roman will spy on exoplanets across the galaxy, as well as many other cosmic phenomena.

Roman will be optimized for a kind of planetary survey called microlensing, which is an observational effect that happens when mass warps the fabric of space-time. At its most extreme, this kind of gravitational lensing is used to observe very massive objects such as galaxies or black holes. In miniature, however, microlensing creates enough "warping" in smaller stars and planets for planet-hunting.

Related: 7 ways to discover alien planets

At this smaller scale, microlensing happens when one star aligns closely with a second star, from the vantage point of Earth. The star that is closer to our planet focuses and amplifies the light from the star that is further away, allowing scientists to see it in a little more detail than usual. Even planets that are orbiting the foreground star can magnify the star's light, creating a spike in brightness.

Roman's microlensing capabilities will be coupled with a wide field of view that is 100 times larger than Hubble's, while capturing stars and planets with the same resolution as the famed telescope. NASA expects Roman to pick up more data than any of the agency's other astrophysics missions.

Roman's efforts will build on other NASA missions optimized for planet-hunting, including the past Kepler mission that found thousands of exoplanets and the current Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) looking for Earth-like planets close to us. Hubble, while not designed for planet-hunting since it launched just when discoveries were beginning, has done plenty of exoplanet science as well. Numerous observatories on Earth have found their own planets or confirmed observations made by space telescopes, creating a larger community of exoplanet science that Roman will contribute to after its launch.

"With such a large number of stars and frequent observations, Roman's microlensing survey will see thousands of planetary events," Rachel Akeson, task lead for the Roman Science Support Center at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center at the California Institute of Technology, said in a NASA statement. "Each one will have a unique signature, which we can use to determine the planet's mass and distance from its star."

Gathering the data is one challenge. Parsing and understanding the information for discoveries and "lessons learned" is another. The ground systems supporting Roman will rely on cloud-based remote services and advanced analytical tools to make sense of the enormous amounts of data the telescope collects: Roman's design calls for the telescope to watch hundreds of millions of stars every 15 minutes for several months at a stretch.

Another notable change from previous flagship missions is the speed at which Roman's data will become public; NASA has promised to make all data available only days after observations are collected.

"Since scientists everywhere will have rapid access to the data, they will be able to quickly discover short-lived phenomena, such as supernova explosions. Detecting these phenomena quickly will allow other telescopes to perform follow-up observations," NASA added in the same statement.

Exoplanets and supernovas are not the only things Roman will discover. It will hunt for brown dwarfs, which are "failed stars" (objects much more massive than Jupiter that are not quite large enough to sustain nuclear fusion). Other expected astronomy targets include runaway stars and bizarre cosmic objects such as the neutron stars and black holes that are left behind when stars run out of fuel.

Roman will also join other observatories in trying to figure out the nature of dark matter and dark energy, which is impossible to observe except through monitoring effects on other objects. Roman's observations will allow the telescope collect precise measurements from numerous galaxies, mapping the distribution and structure of regular matter and dark matter across the universe's history.

Among other applications, Roman's work in dark energy and dark matter could help scientists understand why the universe is expanding, and why that expansion is accelerating as the universe gets bigger. That discovery of acceleration got an assist from Hubble in the 1990s, eventually leading to a Nobel Prize in 2011.

Another Roman partnership with its predecessor will be follow up on Hubble's Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey (CANDELS). This survey charted how galaxies develop over time; Hubble took 21 days to gather the information, but Roman will only take half an hour to conduct a similar investigation.

"With its incredibly fast survey speeds, Roman will observe planets by the thousands, galaxies by the millions, and stars by the billions," Karoline Gilbert, mission scientist for the Roman Science Operations Center at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, said in the same NASA statement. "These vast datasets will allow us to address cosmic mysteries that hint at new fundamental physics."

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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NASA's Nancy Grace Roman space telescope will send the hunt for exoplanets into warp speed - Space.com

Another Intense Summer of Fires in Siberia – nasa.gov

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Abnormally warm temperatures have spawned an intense fire season in eastern Siberia this summer. Satellite data show that fires have been more abundant, more widespread, and produced more carbon emissions than recent seasons.

The area shown in the time-lapse sequence above includes the Sakha Republic, one of the most active fire regions in Siberia this summer. The images show smoke plumes billowing from July 30 to August 6, 2020, as observed by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on NASA/NOAAs Suomi NPP satellite and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASAs Terra satellite. Strong winds occasionally carried the plumes as far as Alaska in late July. As of August 6, approximately 19 fires were burning in the province.

After the Arctic fires in 2019, the activity in 2020 was not so surprising through June, said Mark Parrington, a senior scientist at the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. What has been surprising is the rapid increase in the scale and intensity of the fires through July, largely driven by a large cluster of active fires in the northern Sakha Republic.

Estimates show that around half of the fires in Arctic Russia this year are burning through areas with peat soildecomposed organic matter that is a large natural carbon source. Warm temperatures (such as the record-breaking heatwave in June) can thaw and dry frozen peatlands, making them highly flammable. Peat fires can burn longer than forest fires and release vast amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.

Parrington noted that fires in Arctic Russia released more carbon dioxide (CO2) in June and July 2020 alone than in any complete fire season since 2003 (when data collection began). That estimate is based on data compiled by CAMS, which incorporates data from NASAs MODIS active fire products.

The destruction of peat by fire is troubling for so many reasons, said Dorothy Peteet of NASAs Goddard Institute for Space Studies. As the fires burn off the top layers of peat, the permafrost depth may deepen, further oxidizing the underlying peat. Peteet and colleagues recently reported that the amount of carbon stored in northern peatlands is double the previous estimates.

Fires in these regions are not just releasing recent surface peat carbon, but stores that have taken 15,000 years to the accumulate, said Peteet. They also release methane, which is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

If fire seasons continue to increase in severity, and possibly in seasonal extent, more peatlands will burn, said Peteet. This source of more carbon dioxide and methane to our atmosphere increases the greenhouse gas problem for us, making the planet even warmer.

NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, using VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS/LANCE and GIBS/Worldview and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership and MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS/LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Kasha Patel.

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Another Intense Summer of Fires in Siberia - nasa.gov

Major federal procurement rule gets first try with DoD and NASA – Federal News Network

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While you were teleworking and hunting online for fashion masks, a major federal new procurement rule sprang up. Right now it only applies to the Defense Department and NASA. But it could soon come to all agencies. For what it is and how it changes things,Federal Drive with Tom Teminturned to Washington D.C. procurement attorney Joe Petrillo.

Tom Temin: Joe, this I guess implements something from an older NDAA. Tell us about this rule.

Joe Petrillo: Sure. Well it started with the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. And so this is about three and a half years later, and we finally have a FAR rule implementing that provision. It became effective August 3. So were right on the cusp of the beginning of this, this new system. If the regulation creates a new type of multiple award task and delivery order contract for services, its not going to apply to goods, just services. And its at the option of the acquiring agency, they can do things the old way or they can try this new technique. The basic concept here is that price or cost is not evaluated at the time of contract award. Right now the laws and regulations require the evaluation of price or cost at the time of contract award. Thats not going to happen here. Instead, every offer or offeror with a technically acceptable proposal that otherwise conforms to the solicitation gets a contract award. But when the orders are awarded and competed, then price or cost is evaluated for every order thats placed under the vehicle.

Tom Temin: So a single agency with a need can create almost like a miniature GWAC just for itself against which it will issue task orders, but it will have multiple awards initially.

Joe Petrillo: Itll have multiple awards, and those awards are made without consideration of price. The price competition and the price consideration comes later on when the orders are being competed. There are a few other requirements, the vehicle has to have an expected value over the simplified acquisition threshold, which was also raised with new regulations to about $250,000, half a million in certain conditions. The contracts have to be for the same or similar services and the vehicle cant be used for sole source 8a awards. But other than that, it is stated.

Tom Temin: If I have a requirement for services, say Im going to modernize my IT infrastructure in my agency, and thats going to take a series of services, I can put out a solicitation and I can make four or five or six awards but not actually give anyone any money. And then once those awards are made, as I come up with task orders, then I pick one of the awardees based on the price of that task order. Is that how it works?

Joe Petrillo: Thats the basic idea. But actually the number of awards isnt really going to be up to the agency, its going to be every offeror who submits a technically acceptable proposal that otherwise conforms to the solicitation requirements. One question is why do this at all? And the reason is because evaluating price in these umbrella services contracts, where the work is done under task orders, extremely difficult. Sometimes you have a sample task, but those arent always actual orders that are going to be placed. You might write up some theoretical proposal for an order thats never going to be placed and how valid is that really? And other times the agency will make an estimate of what the different types of services are, what the different labor category hours are going to be during the contract performance when the actual orders are placed. But thats just a wild estimate and it could vary quite differently for different offerors. So that leads to a real difficulty and understanding and making a valid price comparison. So this addresses that but then it creates perhaps other other problems.

Tom Temin: It seems that this could really undermine some of the existing government wide acquisition contracts for services, where you just go with a test quarter as needed, and everythings already awarded and all this is done. This is seems to steer agencies in between going to the big GWACs or going to a full and open competition for every service they need that might be related to a string of services so that they can establish their own little multiple award schedule.

Joe Petrillo: Well not exactly. I dont see anything in the rule that says it cant be used for GWACs. But, of course, DoD, NASA and the Coast Guard only run so many of those. I think the way agencies will see it as a benefit is it retains two features that they like a lot about these large multiple award IDIQs. One is theyve pre qualified a group of bidders. They know that these folks have met a certain minimum level of standards, and they have some confidence in them. Secondly, it provides some protection against protests. As you know, you cannot protest a task order under a certain dollar threshold for most reasons. And thats $10 million for civilian agencies and $25 million for the agencies that are affected by this order. So those two benefits are preserved by this particular method.

Tom Temin: What happens if you put out a solicitation and 300 vendors show up? Theyre all on?

Joe Petrillo: Well, thats what youve hit on as the potential problem with this. Were going to set out this method. and if 300 vendors show up, and most of them make the qualifications, theyd have to get the awards. So now youre in a situation where you potentially have 100 vendors bidding on each opportunity, its probably not workable and that may be the fear that keeps this from getting off the ground.

Tom Temin: What was the origin? Who wanted this?

Joe Petrillo: Im not entirely sure. For one thing, it was passed three and a half years ago, and I dont recall who is who is pushing it back then. But I think the problem it seeks to address as a very real one, which is how do you you do price comparisons and price competitions in these big procurements? Youll see protests in which there are questions about price reasonableness and if its evaluated price realism, and you can see very, very wide disparities in hourly rates. And yet, they all seem to fall under the category of reasonableness or realism.

Tom Temin: And if an agency wants to not do it this way and just pick someone in an open competition, can they still do that and what do they have to do?

Joe Petrillo: Absolutely. This is just an option they have to doing it in the usual single contract mode or using a multiple award vehicle where price has been evaluated, price or cost has been evaluated in the contract award process.

Tom Temin: Well you can try it out starting August 3, I guess. Procurement attorney Joseph Petrillo is with Petrillo and Powell. Thanks so much for joining me.

Joe Petrillo: Well thank you Tom. Have a good day.

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Major federal procurement rule gets first try with DoD and NASA - Federal News Network

The Secret to a Long Healthy Life Is in the Genes of the Oldest Humans Alive – Singularity Hub

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The first time I heard nematode worms can teach us something about human longevity, I balked at the idea. How the hell can a worm with an average lifespan of only 15 days have much in common with a human who lives decades?

The answer is in their genesespecially those that encode for basic life functions, such as metabolism. Thanks to the lowly C. elegans worm, weve uncovered genes and molecular pathways, such as insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling that extends healthy longevity in yeast, flies, and mice (and maybe us). Too nerdy? Those pathways also inspired massive scientific and popular interest in metformin, hormones, intermittent fasting, and even the ketogenic diet. To restate: worms have inspired the search for our own fountain of youth.

Still, thats just one success story. How relevant, exactly, are those genes for humans? Were rather a freak of nature. Our aging process extends for years, during which we experience a slew of age-related disorders. Diabetes. Heart disease. Dementia. Surprisingly, many of these dont ever occur in worms and other animals. Something is obviously amiss.

In this months Nature Metabolism, a global team of scientists argued that its high time we turn from worm to human. The key to human longevity, they say, lies in the genes of centenarians. These individuals not only live over 100 years, they also rarely suffer from common age-related diseases. That is, theyre healthy up to their last minute. If evolution was a scientist, then centenarians, and the rest of us, are two experimental groups in action.

Nature has already given us a genetic blueprint for healthy longevity. We just need to decode it.

Long-lived individuals, through their very existence, have established the physiological feasibility of living beyond the ninth decade in relatively good health and ending life without a period of protracted illness, the authors wrote. From this rare but valuable population, we can gain insight into the physiology of healthy aging and the development of new therapies to extend the human healthspan.

While it may seem obvious now, whether genes played a role in longevity was disputed for over a century. After all, rather than genes, wouldnt access to health care, socioeconomic status, diet, smoking, drinking, exercise, or many other environmental and lifestyle factors play a much larger role? Similar to height or intelligence (however the latter is assessed), the genetics of longevity is an enormously complicated and sensitive issue for unbiased studying.

Yet after only a few genetic studies of longevity, a trend quickly emerged.

The natural lifespan in humans, even under optimal conditions in modern societies, varies considerably, the authors said. One study, for example, found that centenarians lived much longer than people born around the same time in the same environment. The offspring of centenarians also have lower chances of age-related diseases and exhibit a more youthful profile of metabolism and age-related inflammation than others of the same age and gender.

Together, about 25 to 35 percent of the variability in how long people live is determined by their genesregardless of environment. In other words, rather than looking at nematode worm genes, we have a discrete population of humans whove already won the genetic lottery when it comes to aging. We just need to parse what winning means in terms of biology. Genes in hand, we could perhaps tap those biological phonelines and cut the wires leading to aging.

Identification of the genetic factors that underlie extreme human lifespan should provide insights into the mechanisms of human longevity and disease resistance, the authors said.

Once scientists discovered that genes play a large role in aging, the next question was which ones are they?

They turned to genome-wide association studies, or GWAS. This big data approach scans existing genomic databases for variations in DNA coding that could lead to differences in some outcomefor example, long versus short life. The differences dont even have to be in so-called coding genes (that is, genes that make proteins). They can be anywhere in the genome.

Its a powerful approach, but not that specific. Think of GWAS as rudimentary debugging software for biological code: it only looks for differences between different DNA letter variants, but doesnt care which specific DNA letter swap most likely impacts the final biological program (aging, in this case).

Thats a huge problem. For one, GWAS often finds dozens of single DNA letter changes, none powerful enough to change the trajectory of aging by itself. The technique highlights a village of DNA variants, that together may have an effect on aging by controlling the cells course over a lifetime, without indicating which are most important. Its also hard to say that a DNA letter change causally leads to (or protects against) aging. Finally, GWAS studies are generally performed on populations of European ancestry, which leaves out a huge chunk of humansfor example, the Japanese, who tend to produce an outsized percentage of centenarians.

So what needs to change?

Rather than focusing on the general population, the key is to home in on centenarians of different cultures, socioeconomic status, and upbringing. If GWAS are like fishing for a rare species in several large oceans, then the authors point is to focus on pondsdistributed across the worldwhich are small, but packed with those rare species.

Extremely long-lived individuals, such as centenarians, compose only a tiny proportion (~0.01 percent to 0.02 percent) of the United States population, but their genes contain a biological blueprint for healthy aging and longevity, the authors said. Theyre spared from usual age-related diseases, and this extreme and extremely rare phenotype is ideal for the study of genetic variants that regulate healthspan and lifespan.

Its an idea that would usually make geneticists flinch. Its generally thought that the larger the study population, the better the result. Here, the recommendation is to narrow our focus.

And thats the point, the authors argue.

Whatever comes out of these studies will likely have a much larger impact on aging than a GWAS fishing experiment. Smaller (genomic) pond; larger (pro-youth) fish. Whats more, a pro-youth gene identified in one European-based long-living population can be verified in another group of centenarianssay, Japaneseensuring that the gene candidates reflect something fundamental about human aging, regardless of race, culture, upbringing, and wealth.

A genomic screen of centenarians can easily be done these days on the cheap. But thats only the first step.

The next step is to validate promising anti-aging genetic differences, similar to how scientists validated such differences in nematode worms during classic longevity studies. For example, a promising pro-youth gene variant can be genetically edited into mice using CRISPR or some other tool. Scientists can then examine how the mice grow up and grow old, compared to their non-edited peers. Does the gene make these mice more resilient to dementia? What about muscle wasting? Or heart troubles? Or hair greying and obesity?

From these observations, scientists can then use an enormous selection of molecular tools to further dissect the molecular pathways underlying these pro-youth genetic changes.

The final step? Guided by centenarian genes and validated by animal models of aging, we can design powerful drugs that sever the connection between the genes and proteins that drive aging and its associated diseases. Metformin is an experimental pill that came out of aging studies in nematode wormsimagine what studies in human centenarians will yield.

Despite enormous improvements in human health over the past century, we remain far from a situation in which living to 100 years of age in fairly good health is the norm, the authors said.

But as centenarians obviously prove, this is possible. By digging into their genes, scientists may find a path towards healthy longevitynot just for the genetically fortunate, but for all of us.

Image credit:Cristian Newman / Unsplash

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The Secret to a Long Healthy Life Is in the Genes of the Oldest Humans Alive - Singularity Hub

U.S. hits Hong Kong leader and other officials with sanctions, citing "brutal oppression" – CBS News

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The U.S. on Friday imposed sanctions on Hong Kong officials, including the pro-China leader of the government, accusing them of roles in squashing freedom in the former British colony. The Treasury Department announced sanctions on Carrie Lam, the leader of the government in Hong Kong, and other officials.

The sanctions are the latest in a string of actions the Trump administration has taken targeting China as tensions between the two nations rise over trade disputes and the coronavirus.

"We will not stand by while the people of Hong Kong suffer brutal oppression at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party or its enablers," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted.

The sanctions were authorized by an executive order that President Donald Trump signed recently to levy penalties against China for its efforts to curtail anti-government protesters in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has long enjoyed civil liberties not seen elsewhere in mainland China because it is governed under a "one country, two systems" principle in place since it reverted to Chinese rule in 1997.

However, Beijing imposed a sweeping "national security" law on Hong Kong earlier this year, raising widespread concerns about the Chinese government cracking down on the anti-government protests.

Last week, four students were arrested in Hong Kong in the first police operation to enforce the new law, officials said. Arrests have been made previously under the new law for banners and slogans displayed at protests.

"Three males and one female, age 16-21, who claimed to be students, have been arrested for breaching the #nationalsecuritylaw. They were suspected of secession by advocating #HKindependence. Investigation is underway," the Hong Kong policetweeted.

Prominent pro-democracy activistJoshua Wongsaid that one of those arrested was Tony Chung, a student activist, and that he was detained after writing a Facebook post about "#China's nationalism."

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U.S. hits Hong Kong leader and other officials with sanctions, citing "brutal oppression" - CBS News

13 Reasons Why this activist is urging the Tamil Nadu govt to oppose NEP 2020 – EdexLive

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Tamil Nadu-based activist Prince Gajendra Babu, the General Secretary of the State Platform for Common School System has urged the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister in a strongly worded letter to oppose the New Education Policy as he believes it negates the vision of the Constitution of India. Babu accused the NEP of putting the federal character of the Constitution in danger and argued that the states efforts so far to establish a strong public education system would go in vain.

Babu said in his letter that his organisation had responded to every call for suggestions and recommendations from the MHRD ever since the NEP began to get drafted. Despite demanding that the NEP be released in all languages, Babu had said that the MHRD had not taken any steps to do so and only did it for a shorter version. It was only with the volunteering of teachers and activists that the final version was translated into Tamil, he added. Yet, despite responding at every stage and submitting their arguments against aspects of the policy, the activist claims nothing had come of it. He listed many reasons as to why the Tamil Nadu government must oppose the policy. These are some of the major argument the activist makes:

1. Babu says that NEP 2020 demolishes the Federal Character of the Constitution of India by promoting Centralisation. The power and authority to formulate policy and regulate all universities is now sought to be with the Union Government and the responsibility to deliver the same as dictated by the Union will be with the State. Establishment of a single Central Regulatory Authority by the Union Government to regulate the Higher Education Institutes including all State Universities is in violation of Article 246, he adds.

2. The activist argues that the NEP demands amendments to the constitution, Ensuring Right to Equitable Access to Education for all citizens is the mandate given by the Constitution of India to the Government. The Constitution of India places Incorporation and Regulation of Universities under the State Subject. The Constitution of India guarantees the Right of Minorities to establish and administer educational institutions. NEP 2020 poses a threat to all these provisions of the Constitution of India. He also says that the laws enacted by the State Legislature would become infructuous.

3. It was not placed in the Parliament or the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for a discussion despite the fact that it had such massive implications for the country.

4. Financial liability is more on the state, he adds, For a college to survive it needs to meet the requirements as formulated by the Central Regulatory Authority established by the Government of India. If a college fails to achieve the required grade in a required period of time it has to become a part of the University. The State Government will be forced to bear the financial burden of each Government College to achieve the required grade within a specified time. Merger also has serious implications for management of colleges, status of staff, salary payment and student regulations.

5. Tamil Nadu has many strong research institutes and CSIR laboratories whose status the NEP has called into question as they are neither large nor multidisciplinary. There is imminent threat to institutes like the International Institute of Tamil Studies, Central Institute of Classical Tamil and others. The conditions laid out in institutional restructuring in NEP 2020 will pave the way for closure of Government Arts and Science Colleges and Universities established with the intention of social and linguistic developments, while increasing the proliferation of private institutions, he pointed out.

6. The activist pointed out that the NEP doesnt take into account social oppression and only focuses on economic backwardness, The NEP fails to recognize the social and educational backwardness. Historically, in India, educational backwardness of a particular community is not because of economic incapacity, but due to social oppression and denial of opportunity. Different communities suffer different levels of oppression and based on the level of oppression and backwardness, reservation and scholarships are provided. NEP 2020 fails to recognize this social reality. NEP 2020 categorizes only the Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs).

7. NEP talks about merit and if the meritorious among the disadvantaged group suffers economic incapacity, such students will be considered for a scholarship. Taking into account the difficulty of such students in overcoming caste oppression, gender oppression, disability, etc., there can be no equal benchmark. NEP makes no provision to assess such difficulties while tracking the progress of students, the activist wrote. He pointed out that the NEP will also undo Tamil Nadus efforts to provide reservation based on social oppression. With regard to grants for research, the activist says that the NEP doesnt consider the difficulties of marginalised students, An equal benchmark for the students coming from the socially oppressed community and the students coming from other communities is nothing but a blatant tool to prevent the academic progress of the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes of the Society. He also said that the NEP denied research scholars any academic freedom and the strict regimen would push many out off the course.

8. A student has several advantages under the present 3-year Degree Course and 2-year Master's Degree Course. NEP arbitrarily introduces new pattern of Degree and Post Degree Courses without any reason backed by any study in India and its impact on the social and educational development of the people of India, the activist wrote about the 4-year undergraduate and 1-year Masters degree rule.

9. There are multiple exit options for students, no attempts to keep students inside the classrooms, he says of the NEP. Even though NEP 2020 talks of equity and inclusiveness, in reality, at every stage and in every field, it paves the way for elimination of first-generation higher education entrants from completing or pursuing their goals, he added.

10. He also criticised the NEPs decision to do away with multiple university entrance exams and the responsibility to conduct exams falling squarely on NTA, Such a proposal raises suspicions of wanting to profit from obsolete, outdated tools and methods. Such a plan fails to recognize the diversity of people in India. Ensuring equal access to quality education at the college level for all students should be the aim of education in India today. NTA will never be able to bring quality or equality in higher education, he wrote.

11. The private HEIs are allowed to generate a surplus and expand their field of operation both geographically and otherwise. Treating both Private and Public on equal foot is the condition in General Agreement on Trade in Service (GATS) under World Trade Organisation (WTO). This is to facilitate Foreign Direct Investors generate profit, he pointed out.

12. Babu states that the NEP makes no reference to democracy on campuses or academic freedom, Students come to educational campuses in pursuit of knowledge and to critically examine the reasons for stagnant social order and evolve new ideas for social emancipation. There is no scope and space for academic freedom to learn and express what the student understands and desires.

13. NEP 2020 has fixed the target of achieving 50 percent Gross Enrollment Rate in Higher Education by 2035. Tamil Nadu is already 15 years ahead. For the State to build on this and achieve further progress, we need to defend the Rights of the State Government, Protect the Public Institutions and ensure the strengthening and further develoment of the public education system in the State of Tamil Nadu, the activist said in his letter.

Besides this, Babu in his letter, has also criticised the teacher training course being extended to 4 years, "The present 2 year Diploma in Elementary Education provides opportunity for all, especially women, to become teachers. In the Indian social condition it will be a challenge for anyone to pursue four year teacher Degree Course in a Teacher University. NEPis premised on a misconceived idea that by increasing the number of years of study, the quality of teachers will be improved."

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13 Reasons Why this activist is urging the Tamil Nadu govt to oppose NEP 2020 - EdexLive