A new book, “Shadows into Light,” by Theresa S. Betancourt, sheds light on the lives of children who were forced to fight in the civil war in Sierra Leone from 1991 to 2002. The book explores the factors that have helped some of these individuals recover and even thrive, highlighting the importance of family, community,…
health on The Soothsayer / page 5
Researchers are making significant strides in using artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the evolution of viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. AI tools can now predict which single mutations in a virus will be most successful and which variants will ‘win’ out in the short term. However, predicting combinations of mutations or variants that will…
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been accused of sexual assault by his estranged younger sister, Annie, in a lawsuit filed in Missouri. The Altman family has responded, denying the allegations and expressing concern for Annie’s mental health. The lawsuit’s claims have sparked a heated debate about the tech industry’s handling of sensitive issues and the…
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has made a bold claim that his company’s AI chips are advancing faster than historical rates set by Moore’s Law. According to Huang, Nvidia’s latest data center superchip, the GB200 NVL72, is 30 to 40x faster at running AI inference workloads than Nvidia’s previous best-selling chips, the H100. This performance jump…
Kombucha, a fermented tea drink, is experiencing a surge in popularity as consumers seek gut-friendly beverages. To address the challenges of home brewing, a San Francisco-based startup, Kombu, has introduced The Fermenstation, an at-home kombucha brewer that streamlines the process and provides consistent results. The device is now available for preorder and is set to…
Scientists are considering climate engineering as a potential solution to global warming, despite public opposition and concerns about unintended consequences. Researchers are working to fill knowledge gaps and develop strategies for deploying reflective particles into the stratosphere to cool the Earth. However, many questions remain unanswered, including how much particulate matter is needed, when and…
A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has found that women who incorporate short bursts of intense physical activity into their daily routines can lower their risk of major cardiovascular problems by 45%. The study, led by Emmanuel Stamatakis, suggests that even just 20-30 seconds of intense exercise per day can…
The world of medicine is on the cusp of a revolution with the development of new weight-loss drugs and breakthroughs in various fields. Eli Lilly’s oral pill orforglipron and Amgen’s maritide are set to change the game in treating obesity and diabetes. Meanwhile, researchers are exploring the potential of GLP-1 agonists to treat other illnesses,…
The American burying beetle, once a common sight in North America’s grasslands, has been making a comeback in southwestern Nebraska’s Loess Canyons. According to new data, the beetle’s population has increased by 17% over the last decade, with models showing that native grasslands free from eastern red cedar are crucial for their survival. This trend…
India’s biotech sector is experiencing rapid growth, with the country’s bio-economy expanding from $10 billion in 2015 to $130 billion in 2024. The sector is expected to continue its growth, reaching $300 billion by 2030. Top biotech companies in India, such as Bugworks Research, Biocon, and Eyestem, are making significant contributions to the sector, developing…
