UN Secretary-General António Guterres has raised a stark warning about the danger of artificial intelligence technology escalating the threat of nuclear war, placing humanity on a precarious knife edge. Speaking at the annual meeting of the US Arms Control Association, Guterres urged nuclear-weapon states to uphold their non-proliferation obligations and commit to not being the first to use nuclear weapons. The looming expiration of the New Start agreement between the US and Russia has further heightened concerns as advancements in artificial intelligence could potentially streamline launch procedures, intensifying deterrence strategies. Guterres emphasized the imperative for human control over decisions regarding nuclear weapon use, cautioning that the current risk levels are reminiscent of the Cold War era. While efforts have been made by some countries to advocate for human oversight in nuclear launches, unilateral actions remain a concern, fueling an arms race dynamic and increasing the urgency for global cooperation in averting a catastrophic outcome.
Canada Braces for Summer COVID Wave Amid New Variant Threats
This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news. A cursory glance at Canada’s wastewater trends for COVID-19 reveals a messy, unpredictable picture: Viral loads ebb and flow all throughout the year, at different times, in different cities. While SARS-CoV-2 is now a familiar threat, the virus isn’t neatly seasonal. It still circulates year-round, humming in the background. When you look at the other four coronaviruses — the cause of 25 per cent of our common colds — they do have this really stark seasonality. But SARS-CoV-2 is still in its infancy, said infectious diseases specialist Dr. Amesh Adalja. Close watchers of SARS-CoV-2’s ongoing evolution are tracking several new variants, all growing more dominant in recent months. This is a virus that was never known to infect humans before 2019, so it’s still a lot of evolutionary pressure, especially with the immunity that people have developed, Adalja said. Vaccine uptake has dropped off over the years, with fewer than two in 10 Canadians getting the most recent updated shots. For those who opt for an additional shot, there’s good news: COVID vaccines continue to be updated to better match circulating strains.
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Bactery Revolutionizes Agriculture with Self-Charging Soil Batteries, UK
A new startup company is leading the charge to a new form of sustainable power, by creating a battery that recharges itself when placed in soil.
Bactery, a University of Bath spinout company, has developed bacteria-powered batteries – or ‘Bacteries’ – which harvest green energy from soil by taking advantage of natural processes that occur in microorganisms within it.
The company’s CEO, Dr Jakub Dziegielowski, who undertook a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University before setting up the company, says: Our initial goal is to leverage the unique Bactery technology to accelerate the shift toward digitalisation within the agriculture sector.
As precision agriculture continues to demonstrate its effectiveness in boosting yields and conserving resources, the demand for sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) devices continues to rise. These electronics collect and relay data on the state of the fields, empowering farmers to make well-informed decisions.
However, current ‘on-farm’ power delivery methods, such as obstructive cabling, single-use chemical batteries, and weather-dependent solar panels largely restrict deployment of Agri-data solutions. Recognising this, Bactery will offer a more practical, affordable, and reliable means of powering these electronics, through soil itself.
The technology has a useable lifespan of over 25 years, and an anticipated cost of around £25 per unit with no maintenance expenses, with the company promising ‘install and forget’ functionality.
Elon Musk Launches Starlink Internet Service in Indonesia’s Remote Regions
Elon Musk traveled to Indonesia’s resort island of Bali to launch Starlink’s satellite internet service in the world’s largest archipelago nation. Wearing a green Batik shirt, Musk was greeted with a garland of flower petals at a community health clinic in Denpasar, where the Starlink service was inaugurated. Musk took a speed test of the Starlink internet service in remote areas, emphasizing its potential impact on healthcare and education sectors in Indonesia. The launch aligns with Starlink’s mission of providing high-speed internet to underserved regions. Indonesian ministers highlighted the crucial role of Starlink’s satellites in enhancing connectivity nationwide. Stay tuned as Starlink’s internet service transforms accessibility in Indonesia’s remote areas.
Rockford Art Museum Prepares for Art in Bloom and Fashion in Bloom Events, US
Rockford, Ill. – Area florists and museum committee members are raising awareness for an upcoming Rockford Art Museum event.
Rockford Art Museum committee members handed out 69 free mini-bouquets at the Union Event Space, 112 N. Second Street, on Friday to raise awareness for its annual Art in Bloom and Fashion in Bloom fundraisers. Next week, RAM will celebrate its eighth annual Art in Bloom event and its seventh annual Fashion in Bloom event.
So this is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year and it’s really a wonderful way for us to use those funds for programming, educational classes and exhibits… also to maintain our permanent collection, RAM executive director Carrie Johnson says.
From June 12 to 16, guests will be able to admire floral interpretations of pieces from RAM’s permanent collection at the Union Event Space. Guests of the event can meet the designers, admire 20 unique works of art made from organic materials and enjoy other floral festivities.
Tickets are available for a preview evening of the Art in Bloom event on June 12. Tickets for Art in Bloom start at $10 and can be purchased at the door.
Floral fashion will be in the spotlight during the Fashion in Bloom fashion show on June 14. Models will wear fresh floral accessories from regional designers and local fashion boutique B Jones. Tickets are available for a limited time, reservations are required.
PM-Designate Narendra Modi Mourns Ramoji Rao’s Passing: Indian Media Visionary Remembered in India
Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on the passing of Ramoji Rao, the chairman of the Eenadu media group and founder of Ramoji Film City. Modi praised Rao’s contributions to journalism and the film industry, highlighting his visionary work and innovation. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu also mourned Rao’s death, recognizing his immense impact on the Telugu community. Rao, who passed away at the age of 87, leaves behind a lasting legacy in the media and entertainment sectors, with numerous successful ventures under his leadership. His dedicated service and commitment to excellence have left an indelible mark on the industry.
Worm Inside Capsicum: Debunking Deadly Claims, Argentina
Are you an avid social media user? Then, there is a high chance that you have come across a video that shows a deadly worm inside a capsicum. The viral footage also claims that if ingested, the worm can cause death. Does the video show the whole truth? Turns out, the footage is being shared with inaccurate claims.
Be careful before eating capsicum, an X user wrote while sharing the video. The clip shows someone slicing a capsicum and removing a thin, almost thread-like worm. The video claims that it is a threadworm and goes on to say that if ingested, it feeds on the large intestine and may also cause someone’s death.
A quick search revealed several similar videos shared earlier on social media. While some of the videos claim that it is a worm, others say it is not a worm but a tiny snake.
During the search, we also came across a report published by AFP that debunked these claims. According to the outlet, the worm shown in the video is harmless and doesn’t pose any health risk to humans.
The worm appears to be a nematomorpha or perhaps a nematoda of the mermithidae family. They share similar characteristics. To distinguish between them you would need to put them under a magnifying glass or microscope, Maria Achinelly, a doctor of natural sciences and member of the Argentinian Parasitology Association told AFP.
Regardless which type of worm this is, the biology is similar — they are worms… they are parasites that depend on insects and kill those that carry them, Achinelly said, adding, They are… able to parasite off cockroaches, lobsters, spiders, scorpions, but never animals like birds, reptiles, amphibians or humans… They are not dangerous to touch or ingest.
This video of a worm inside capsicum is being shared with the misleading claim that it can cause death if ingested.
Former Apollo 8 Astronaut William Anders Dies in Plane Crash Off San Juan Islands, US
SEATTLE (AP) — William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic Earthrise photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968, was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90. His son, Greg Anders, confirmed the death to The Associated Press.
The family is devastated, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Anders said. He was a great pilot and we will miss him terribly.
Retired Maj. Gen. William Anders has said the photo was his most significant contribution to the space program, given the ecological philosophical impact it had, along with making sure the Apollo 8 command module and service module worked.
The photograph, the first color image of Earth from space, is one of the most important photos in modern history for the way it changed how humans viewed the planet. The photo is credited with sparking the global environmental movement for showing how delicate and isolated Earth appeared from space.
NASA Administrator and former Sen. Bill Nelson said Anders embodied the lessons and the purpose of exploration.
He traveled to the threshold of the Moon and helped all of us see something else: ourselves, Nelson wrote on the social platform X.
Anders snapped the photo during the crew’s fourth orbit of the moon, frantically switching from black-and-white to color film.
Oh my God, look at that picture over there! Anders said. There’s the Earth coming up. Wow, is that pretty!
The Apollo 8 mission in December 1968 was the first human spaceflight to leave low-Earth orbit and travel to the moon and back. It was NASA’s boldest and perhaps most dangerous voyage yet and one that set the stage for the Apollo moon landing seven months later.
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, who is also a retired NASA astronaut, wrote on the social platform X: Bill Anders forever changed our perspective of our planet and ourselves with his famous Earthrise photo on Apollo 8. He inspired me and generations of astronauts and explorers. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
A report came in around 11:40 a.m. that an older-model plane crashed into the water and sank near the north end of Jones Island, San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter said.
Only the pilot was on board the Beech A45 airplane at the time, according to the Federal Aviation Association.
The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating the crash.
William Anders said in an 1997 NASA oral history interview that he didn’t think the Apollo 8 mission was risk-free but there were important national, patriotic and exploration reasons for going ahead. He estimated there was about one in three chance that the crew wouldn’t make it back and the same chance the mission would be a success and the same chance that the mission wouldn’t start to begin with. He said he suspected Christopher Columbus sailed with worse odds.
He recounted how earth looked fragile and seemingly physically insignificant, yet was home.
We’d been going backwards and upside down, didn’t really see the Earth or the Sun, and when we rolled around and came around and saw the first Earthrise, he said. That certainly was, by far, the most impressive thing. To see this very delicate, colorful orb which to me looked like a Christmas tree ornament coming up over this very stark, ugly lunar landscape really contrasted.
Anders was born on October 17, 1933, in Hong Kong, according to the New Mexico Museum of Space History, where he was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1983. At the time, his father was a Navy lieutenant aboard the USS Panay, which was a U.S. gunboat in China’s Yangtze River. Anders and his mother fled during the 1937 Japanese attack on Nanjing.
Anders and his wife, Valerie, founded the Heritage Flight Museum in Washington state in 1996. It is now based at a regional airport in Burlington, and features 15 aircrafts, several antique military vehicles, a library and many artifacts donated by veterans, according to the museum’s website. Two of his sons helped him run it.
The couple moved to Orcas Island, in the San Juan archipelago, in 1993, and kept a second home in their hometown of San Diego, according to a biography on the museum’s website. They had six children and 13 grandchildren.
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Sheriff’s Office & Florida Poly Launch AI Lab to Combat Criminal Misuse, US
POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County Sheriff’s Office is leading the charge to protect citizens from criminals using artificial intelligence.
This is fake in a real world, and we’re frightened to death of the negatives of AI, said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
As artificial intelligence plays an ever-growing role in our society, it offers criminals new tools and opportunities. That is why the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with Florida Polytechnic University to create an AI Laboratory, to combat the potential abuse of AI technology for criminal purposes.
Imagine criminals who want to steal your name, your image and your likeness for any number of sinister reasons. Imagine not having the subject matter experts with the tools, education and training to keep you safe, said Judd.
The Sheriff’s Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL) is the first of its kind law enforcement unit in the nation, according to Judd.
Operational goals for the new AI investigative team include: obtain and maintain cutting-edge training and tools to help identify AI-related crime and criminals; assist in criminal investigations involving the use of AI; identify emerging AI technologies and leverage and/or combat the misuse of these technologies; systematically vet new AI investigative software for use in a law enforcement setting.
We’ve already discovered AI generated child porn. Where they’ve taken children’s faces from books from social media and superimposed that face on an image to make it look like it was that child, said Judd.
Florida Poly researchers and students will work with the sheriff’s office to provide training, technical support and craft solutions.
We are going to have sheriff’s and deputies out in the real world seeing fraud cases and all of that. Then you pair them with a researcher to figure out how do I counter those particular cases, said Dr. Randy Avent, President of Florida Polytechnic University.
Thus, allowing law enforcement to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing emerging AI threats.
Spice Startup Excels at National Fair in Jaipur, India
Ludhiana: ‘One Swaadumlabh Production,’ a startup incubated at Punjab Agricultural University’s Punjab Agri Business Incubator (PABI), was recognized at the National Cooperative Spice Fair 2024 in Jaipur. The event highlighted innovation and excellence in spice production, where the startup stood out for its remarkable contribution. With a focus on promoting agripreneurship, the fair showcased top-quality spice production and processing. ‘One Swaadumlabh Production’ received an award for its exceptional performance in the field.
