Chernobyl was a tragedy of
incomprehensible scale, but we still
don’t have a great grasp on the effects
of the disaster on local populations, Dr. Sophia Tintor, lead author of the study, to 'The Daily Mail'.
Did the sudden environmental shift
select for species, or even individuals
within a species, that are naturally
more resistant to ionizing radiation?, Dr. Sophia Tintor, lead author of the study, to 'The Daily Mail'.
20 genetically-different worms were examined.
These worms live everywhere, and they live
quickly, so they go through dozens of
generations of evolution while a typical
vertebrate is still putting on its shoes, Matthew Rockman, a biology professor
at New York University, via 'The Independent'.
Researchers found that the worms' genomes
were not damaged by the radiation.
Such discoveries may help to better understand natural variation,
'The Independent' reports.
Other animals that continue to live at Chernobyl
include bears, wolves, dogs, deer, wild boar, beavers, amphibians and more, according to Mental Floss.
Other animals that continue to live at Chernobyl
include bears, wolves, dogs, deer, wild boar, beavers, amphibians and more, according to Mental Floss.
Other animals that continue to live at Chernobyl
include bears, wolves, dogs, deer, wild boar, beavers, amphibians and more, according to Mental Floss.
Other animals that continue to live at Chernobyl
include bears, wolves, dogs, deer, wild boar, beavers, amphibians and more, according to Mental Floss
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on Friday that the safety of Europe's largest nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhia is threatened by Russia's war against Ukraine, as the country marked the 38th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:05Published
This Day in History: , Nuclear Disaster
at Chernobyl.
April 26, 1986.
The disaster at Chernobyl, located about 65 miles from Kiev in the former Soviet Union, is the worst nuclear power plant accident to date.
50 tons of radioactive material was released into the atmosphere after an explosion of the Number 4 reactor, caused by an engineering experiment.
The 30,000 residents of
the nearby community of
Pripyat were evacuated the next day.
The Soviet government
attempted a cover-up.
But two days after the disaster, radiation levels
800 miles away in Sweden were detected at
40% higher than the normal level.
32 people were initially
killed in the Chernobyl plant.
5,000 Soviets eventually died
from radiation-induced illnesses.
Millions of acres of forest
and farmland across Northern
and Eastern Europe were contaminated.
The former residents of
Pripyat have never returned
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:08Published
Solar Power Breakthrough , Could Bring Clean Energy to, Heavy Manufacturing.
A new solar-powered device may have
reached a breakthrough, generating
temperatures over 1,000 degrees Celsius. .
The breakthrough was detailed in a study
published in the journal 'Device.'.
'The Independent' reports that the development
raises hopes that green energy could be used to
run some of the world's most fossil fuel-intensive
manufacturing processes. .
'The Independent' reports that the development
raises hopes that green energy could be used to
run some of the world's most fossil fuel-intensive
manufacturing processes. .
Using synthetic quartz crystals, the new
proof-of-concept device traps solar energies
at temperatures over 1,000 degrees Celsius. .
The breakthrough could bring clean energy
to carbon-intensive industries like cement,
chemical and metal manufacturing.
These manufacturing industries
alone account for almost a quarter of
the world's total energy consumption.
The new device reportedly relies upon a phenomenon
known as the thermal trap effect to harness the power
of the sun more efficiently than ever achieved before.
Previous research has only managed to
demonstrate the thermal trap effect up
to 170C. Our research showed that solar
thermal trapping works not just at low
temperatures, but well above 1,000C. , Emiliano Casati, Study co-author from ETH Zurich, via 'The Independent'.
This is crucial to show
its potential for real-world
industrial applications, Emiliano Casati, Study co-author from ETH Zurich, via 'The Independent'.
'The Independent' reports that researchers are looking
to optimize the thermal trap effect to find
new applications for the groundbreaking process.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Astronomers Witness , Merger of 2 Black Holes, From the 'Cosmic Dawn'.
'The Independent' reports that NASA's
Webb Space Telescope has made the most
distant detection of merging black holes. .
Two gigantic black holes and the galaxies that they stood
at the center of merged together just 740 million years
after the universe was formed in the Big Bang.
One of the black holes is a staggering 50 million
times larger than our Sun, and the other
is believed to be a similar gigantic size. .
Astronomers have long wondered how supermassive black holes are so big. .
Lead author Hannah Ubler of the University of Cambridge
says the findings suggest that mergers like this ancient
example show how black holes are able to grow so rapidly.
According to Ubler, the latest Webb
discovery also suggests that black holes
have been merging since the "cosmic dawn.".
Massive black holes
have been shaping
the evolution of galaxies
from the very beginning, Hannah Ubler, lead author from the University
of Cambridge, via 'The Independent'.
In 2021, NASA launched Webb, intended
to replace the Hubble Space Telescope.
Webb is the largest and most powerful
observatory ever launched into space. .
The joint U.S.-European project surveys
the universe from a vantage point located
about 1 million miles away from Earth.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Boeing Faces, Potential Criminal Charges , Following String of Incidents.
'The Independent' reports that federal officials have
issued a warning to Boeing regarding possible criminal charges due to the airliner's failure to improve safety. .
The government-issued warning comes after
a series of incidents, including two 737 Max
jet crashes within a five-month span. .
One crash occurred in Indonesia in
2018 and another took place in Ethiopia in 2019.
A total of 346 people were
killed in the two crashes.
Following those two crashes,
Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion and
make a number of safety improvements.
Feds now accuse Boeing of violating that deal and
claim the company could face further prosecution
following a series of incidents in recent months.
In January, an Alaska Airlines Boeing
737 MAX 9 had a door plug
blow off mid-flight. .
That incident resulted in the FAA
ordering all 171 MAX 9 jets be grounded
while the agency investigated the incident. .
For failing to fulfill completely the terms
of and obligations under the [deferred
prosecution agreement], Boeing is subject
to prosecution by the United States for
any federal criminal violation of which
the United States has knowledge, Department of Justice lawyers
letter to a federal judge, via 'The Independent'.
'The Independent' reports that a number of whistleblowers
have accused Boeing of cutting corners when it comes to
quality and expertise in exchange for short-term profit.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
5 Tips, for Beginner Cyclists .
1. Safety first.
Look for a helmet that is
lightweight and comfortable.
Safety features like MIPS, multi-directional impact protection system, help protect you from different types of impact. .
2. Be aware of the
traffic environment
and road conditions.
Find a cycling guide to brush up on
road safety awareness, basic road
positioning, observation and anticipation.
3. Download a cycling app. .
A cycling app
can help you
optimize your trip.
'The Independent' recommends Bike Hub
Journey Planner which offers spoken
instructions, multiple routes and a
number of other handy features. .
4. Basic maintenance
is essential.
Most importantly, check
the tire pressure, brake lines,
brake pads and oil the chain. .
A local bike service center
can always help you. .
5. Find a cycling club. .
Finding other experienced cyclists
to ride with is a great way to become
a more competent rider. .
It's time to
hit the road.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
McDonald's Posts , Disappointing Q1 Results , Amid Ongoing Boycotts.
'The Independent' reports that McDonald's posted weaker-
than-expected results in the first quarter of 2024, as a result
of a boycott over the company's perceived support for Israel. .
'The Independent' reports that McDonald's posted weaker-
than-expected results in the first quarter of 2024, as a result
of a boycott over the company's perceived support for Israel. .
According to McDonald's, higher sales in the
United States helped the fast-food giant overcome
weakness in markets where the brand is being boycotted.
According to McDonald's, higher sales in the
United States helped the fast-food giant overcome
weakness in markets where the brand is being boycotted.
The company saw same-store sales rise by
1.9% worldwide between January and March,
below the Wall Street forecast of 2.1%.
Increased menu pricing and delivery demand
saw same-store sales in the U.S. increase by 2.5%.
In international markets, sales fell
by 0.2% for the first time since 2020.
Despite this, McDonald's said the company's revenue
increased 5% to reach $6.17 billion, while net income went
up 7% to $1.93 billion, in-line with Wall Street estimates.
'The Independent' reports that Muslim-majority
markets like Indonesia, Malaysia and the Middle East
have been boycotting McDonald's for months.
The boycotts started after a McDonald's franchise in
Israel announced in October that it would provide free
meals for Israeli troops amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
In the months since then, the company has tried to limit
the fallout by taking over all 225 McDonald's in the country
with the purchase of Alyonal Limited, its Israeli franchise.
Our hearts remain with
the communities and families
impacted by the war in the Middle East.
We abhor violence of any kind and
firmly stand against hate speech,
and we will always proudly
open our doors to everyone, McDonald's statement, via 'The Indepndent'.
Our hearts remain with
the communities and families
impacted by the war in the Middle East.
We abhor violence of any kind and
firmly stand against hate speech,
and we will always proudly
open our doors to everyone, McDonald's statement, via 'The Indepndent'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Join us for the latest international news updates in Episode 5 of International News Wrap. In this episode, we cover a range of topics including Prince Louis's birthday celebration, the passing of the Rwanda Asylum Law in the UK parliament, the recent protests at NYU, and more. Stay informed about the latest events from around the globe by tuning in now!
#PrinceLouisBirthday #RwandaAsylumLaw #NYUProtest #MalaysiaHelicopterCrash #NorthKoreaDrill #InternationalNews #Oneindia
~HT.97~PR.274~ED.102~
NYC’s AI Chatbot Has Been , Telling Businesses to Break the Law.
New York City's AI chatbot was created to help small business owners, but it's been dispensing concerning advice, AP reports. .
For example, many small business owners have
been given inaccurate information about local policies or been encouraged to break the law.
However, the city is not removing
the chatbot from its official website.
Instead, it has provided a disclaimer stating that the chatbot may "occasionally produce incorrect, harmful or biased" information.
Critics say that the situation highlights
the dangers of AI being used by
governments without proper guardrails.
They’re rolling out software that
is unproven without oversight, Julia Stoyanovich, computer science professor
and director of the Center for Responsible AI
at New York University, via statement.
It’s clear they have no intention
of doing what’s responsible, Julia Stoyanovich, computer science professor
and director of the Center for Responsible AI
at New York University, via statement.
There’s a different level of trust that’s
given to government. Public officials need
to consider what kind of damage they can
do if someone was to follow this advice
and get themselves in trouble, Jevin West, a professor at the University of Washington and
co-founder of the Center for an Informed Public, via statement.
Microsoft, which powers the chatbot, said it
is working with the city "to improve the service
and ensure the outputs are accurate and
grounded on the city’s official documentation.".
On April 2, Mayor Eric Adams said that
letting users find issues with the chatbot is just part of sorting out the new technology.
Anyone that knows technology knows this
is how it’s done. Only those who are fearful
sit down and say, ‘Oh, it is not working the
way we want, now we have to run away from
it all together.’ I don’t live that way, Mayor Eric Adams, via statement.
Julia Stoyanovich, a computer science professor and director of the Center for Responsible AI at New York University, referred to Adams' approach as "reckless and irresponsible," AP reports.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published