💉 Study for world's first tuberculosis vaccine in 100 years reaches recruitment target earlier than expected
The clinical trial of potentially first new tuberculosis vaccine in a century has successfully recruited all 20,000 participants several months earlier than planned. The vaccine showed 50% effectiveness in earlier phase 2 studies, which could reduce millions of tuberculosis cases globally.
👩💻 ChatGPT uses less energy than an hour of Netflix
One hour of Netflix watching equals the energy required for between 300 and 3000 ChatGPT prompts. Ending your shower one second earlier saves enough water to compensate for 40 ChatGPT prompts.
📉 Diabetes-related deaths in the US drop to lowest levels in years
New preliminary figures from the CDC show that diabetes-related deaths in the US have decreased to 26.4 deaths per 100,000 people according to data from the third quarter of 2024. This decrease reverses the concerning increase observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
🦾 An AI-generated scientific paper approved in peer review process
An article entirely created by the Sakana's AI Scientist has been approved in the peer review process. This is the first time a fully AI-generated scientific paper has passed the same review process that human researchers go through.
🚚 Aurora launches the first commercial driverless trucking service
Aurora has begun delivering goods with fully driverless trucks between Dallas and Houston, making them the first company with a commercial autonomous trucking service on public roads. The trucks are equipped with sensors that can see over four football fields away.
🏆 Four companies win $100 million for their carbon capture
Mati Carbon receives the main prize of 50 million dollars in the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition. The company uses crushed basalt on agricultural land to accelerate a natural weathering process that permanently binds carbon dioxide, while improving soil quality for small-scale farmers.
🦟 New medication kills mosquitoes through the blood they suck
A medication approved for rare genetic diseases, proves to kill malaria-carrying mosquitoes when they suck blood from people who have taken the medicine. The mosquitoes die within 24 hours after sucking blood containing nitisinone, which is faster than with previously tested medications.
🧠 Users of digital technology have 58 percent lower risk of cognitive decline
Digital technology reduces the risk of cognitive impairment by 58 percent according to a comprehensive meta-analysis. The effect persisted even after accounting for demographic factors, socioeconomic status, and health conditions.
🚀 Fusion-powered spacecraft can cut travel time to Mars in half
British company Pulsar Fusion is developing Sunbird, a fusion-powered spacecraft that can reach speeds up to 805,000 kilometers per hour. Nuclear fusion in space may be easier to achieve than on Earth, as vacuum is a more natural environment for the fusion process.