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Tirzepatide Decreased The Chance Of Developing Type 2 Diabetes By 94% In Persons With Pre-Diabetes, Obesity, Or Overweight.

Maria Sabir
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Tirzepatide Decreased The Chance Of Developing Type 2 Diabetes By 94% In Persons With Pre-Diabetes, Obesity, Or Overweight. 
Tirzepatide Decreased The Chance Of Developing Type 2 Diabetes By 94% In Persons With Pre-Diabetes, Obesity, Or Overweight.

Indianapolis, August 20, 2024 (PRNewswire) — Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced positive topline results from the SURMOUNT-1 three-year study (176-week treatment period) evaluating the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide (Zepbound® and Mounjaro®) once weekly for long-term weight management and delayed progression to diabetes in adults with pre-diabetes, obesity, or overweight. Weekly tirzepatide injections (5 mgi, 10 mg, 15 mg) reduced the incidence of progression to type 2 diabetes by 94% ii among persons with pre-diabetes, obesity, or overweight when compared to placebo. Furthermore, treatment with tirzepatide resulted in sustained weight loss across the treatment duration. At the end of the treatment period, adults on the 15 mg dose had a 22.9% overall average drop in body weight, compared to 2.1% for placebo in adults with pre-diabetes, obesity, or overweight.

“Obesity is a chronic disease that increases the risk of other complications such as type 2 diabetes in nearly 900 million adults worldwide,” said Jeff Emmick, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president, product development at Lilly. “Tirzepatide lowered the chance of acquiring type 2 diabetes by 94% and resulted in consistent weight loss over a three-year treatment period. These findings support the potential clinical benefits of long-term treatment for persons with obesity and pre-diabetes.”

Tirzepatide was tested in 1,032 persons with pre-diabetes at randomization and obesity or overweight for 176 weeks, followed by a 17-week off-treatment interval (193 weeks total). In 2022, the New England Journal of Medicine published the results of the SURMOUNT-1 phase 3 study’s principal analysis at 72 weeks in all participants.

Tirzepatide significantly reduced the chance of developing type 2 diabetes in persons with pre-diabetes, obesity, or overweight from baseline to week 176 (p<0.0001, adjusted for type 1 error). Pooled doses of tirzepatide demonstrated significant efficacy estimates, with a 94% reduction in risk of progression to type 2 diabetes compared to placebo up to week 176. Up to week 176, pooled dosages of tirzepatide reduced the probability of developing type 2 diabetes by 93% compared to placebo.

Tirzepatide (10 mg and 15 mg) significantly reduced weight in persons with pre-diabetes, obesity, or overweight compared to placebo from baseline to week 176 (p<0.001, corrected for type 1 error). At week 176, adults receiving tirzepatide lost an average of 15.4% (5 mg), 19.9% (10 mg), and 22.9% (15 mg) more weight than those on placebo (2.1%). At week 176, persons using tirzepatide lost an average of 12.3% (5 mg), 18.7% (10 mg), and 19.7% (15 mg) more weight than those taking placebo (1.3%).

During the 17-week off-treatment period, those who had discontinued tirzepatide began to gain weight and had an increase in the progression to type 2 diabetes, resulting in an 88% reduction (p<0.0001, controlled for type 1 error) in the risk of progression to type 2 diabetes compared to placebo.

The overall safety and tolerability profile of tirzepatide across the 193-week study was consistent with previously published primary outcomes at 72 weeks in SURMOUNT-1 and other tirzepatide clinical trials for chronic weight management. The most often reported adverse effects were typically gastrointestinal in nature and of mild to moderate intensity. The most common gastrointestinal side effects for tirzepatide patients were diarrhea, nausea, constipation, and vomiting.

Tirzepatide, a GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, functions by activating both hormone receptors. GLP-1 regulates appetite and calorie intake. Nonclinical studies indicate that the inclusion of GIP may aid in the regulation of food consumption. Tirzepatide reduces calorie intake, and the effects are most likely mediated by changes in appetite. Furthermore, tirzepatide promotes insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent way. Tirzepatide improves insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes, which can lead to a drop in blood glucose levels.

These topline data show that tirzepatide reduces the chance of developing type 2 diabetes and maintains weight loss in persons with pre-diabetes, obesity, or overweight. Detailed findings will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and presented at ObesityWeek 2024, which will be held November 3–6.

About SURMOUNT-1

SURMOUNT-1 (NCT04184622) was a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled trial that compared the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg to placebo as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity in adults without type 2 diabetes who are obese or overweight and have at least one of the following comorbidities: hypertension, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or cardiovascular disease. The 1,032 participants who had pre-diabetes at the start of the study remained enrolled in SURMOUNT-1 for an additional 104 weeks of treatment after the initial 72-week completion date to assess the impact on body weight and potential differences in progression to type 2 diabetes after three years of treatment with tirzepatide versus placebo.

Tirzepatide is a once-weekly agonist of GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptors, which are natural incretin hormones found in areas of the human brain important for appetite regulation. It has been shown to reduce food intake and modulate fat utilization.

Lilly plans to submit data for tirzepatide in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and obesity to the U.S. FDA and other global regulatory agencies later this year. Tirzepatide was approved by the U.S. FDA as Mounjaro® for adults with type 2 diabetes to improve glycemic control on May 13, 2022, and as Zepbound® for adults with obesity (a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater) or overweight (a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater) who also have a weight-rela

Tirzepatide is the only approved GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) therapy for persistent obesity. Mounjaro® and Zepbound® should be used in combination with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

INDICATION AND SAFETY SUMMARY, WITH WARNINGS

Zepbound® (ZEHP-bownd) is an injectable prescription drug that may help adults who are obese or have excess weight (overweight) and have weight-related medical problems reduce and maintain their weight. It should be combined with a lower-calorie diet and more physical activity.

Zepbound contains tirzepatide, which should not be combined with other tirzepatide-containing drugs or GLP-1 receptor-agonist medications. It is unclear whether Zepbound is safe and effective when combined with other prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal weight-loss medications. It is unclear whether Zepbound can be used in patients who have experienced pancreatitis. It is unclear whether Zepbound is safe and effective for use by children under the age of 18.

Warnings: Zepbound may cause thyroid tumors, including cancer. Look for signs of a lump or enlargement in the neck, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor.

Do not use Zepbound if you or anybody in your family has ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).
Zepbound should not be used if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).

Do not use Zepbound if you have experienced a severe allergic response to tirzepatide or any of its constituents.
Zepbound may have major side effects, such as:

Severe stomach issues: People who take Zepbound have reported stomach problems, some of which are severe. Tell your doctor if you experience serious stomach troubles that won’t go away.

Kidney troubles (failure): Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may induce fluid loss (dehydration), which can lead to renal problems. You should drink enough fluids to lower your chances of becoming dehydrated.

Gallbladder issues: Some Zepbound users have reported gallbladder troubles. If you have gallbladder symptoms such as pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored feces, see your doctor right away.

Pancreatic inflammation: Stop using Zepbound and contact your doctor right away if you have severe stomach discomfort (abdomen) that does not go away, with or without vomiting. You may experience pain across your abdomen and back.

Severe allergic responses: Stop using Zepbound and seek medical attention right away if you experience any of the following symptoms of a significant allergic reaction: swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; difficulty breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting or feeling dizzy; or a very rapid heartbeat.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): If you combine Zepbound with other blood sugar-lowering medications, such as sulfonylureas or insulin, your chance of developing low blood sugar may increase. Low blood sugar symptoms may include dizziness or lightheadedness, perspiration, confusion or sleepiness, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, irritability, mood changes, hunger, weakness, or jitteriness.

Vision changes in people with type 2 diabetes: If your vision changes while using Zepbound, notify your healthcare professional.

Depression or suicidal ideation: Pay attention to changes in your mood, behavior, sensations, or thoughts. If you see any new, worsening, or concerning mental changes, contact your healthcare practitioner immediately.

Common side effects

Zepbound’s most common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdominal) pain, indigestion, injection site responses, fatigue, allergic reactions, belching, hair loss, and heartburn. These are not the only probable negative effects of Zepbound. Inform your healthcare practitioner if you are experiencing any side effects that are bothering you or are persistent.

Inform your healthcare practitioner if you experience any side effects. To report side effects, call 1-800-FDA-1088 or visit www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Before using Zepbound

Before you begin using Zepbound for the first time, your healthcare provider should demonstrate how to do so.

Tell your doctor if you are using any diabetes medications, such as insulin or sulfonylureas, which may raise your risk of low blood sugar. Consult your healthcare professional about low blood sugar levels and how to manage them.

If you take birth control tablets orally, see your doctor before using Zepbound. Birth control pills may not be as effective while taking Zepbound. Your healthcare practitioner may advise you to use a different method of birth control for the first four weeks after starting Zepbound and for each subsequent four-week dose increase.

Discuss these questions with your healthcare provider:

Do you have any other medical illnesses, such as pancreas or renal difficulties, or significant stomach problems, such as delayed emptying (gastroparesis) or difficulty digesting food?

❑ Do you use diabetes medications, like insulin or sulfonylureas?
❑ Have you ever had diabetic retinopathy?
Do you take any additional prescription or OTC medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements?
❑ Are you pregnant, planning to get pregnant, breastfeeding, or intending to breastfeed?

Zepbound may harm your unborn child. Inform your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking Zepbound. It is unknown whether Zepbound goes into your breast milk. You should consult your healthcare professional about the best manner to feed your infant while on Zepbound.

Pregnancy Exposure Registry: A pregnancy exposure registry will be established for women who took Zepbound during their pregnancy. This registry’s objective is to collect health-related information about you and your baby. Talk with your healthcare practitioner about how you might participate in this registry, or you may contact Lilly at 1-800-LillyRx (800-545-5979).

How To Take

Read the Zepbound instructions.
Follow the instructions provided by your healthcare professional when using Zepbound.
Zepbound is injected subcutaneously into your stomach, thigh, or upper arm.
Use Zepbound once each week, at any time of day.
Change (rotate) your injection site every week. Do not inject at the same place each time.
If you take too much Zepbound, call your doctor immediately, get medical help, or contact a Poison Center expert at 1-800-222-1222.

Learn more

Zepbound is a prescription medication. For additional information, call 1-800-LillyRx (1-800–545-5979) or visit.

This overview gives basic information about Zepbound but may not include all of the information available about this medication. Read the information that comes with your medication every time it is filled. This material is not intended to replace a conversation with your healthcare physician. Consult your healthcare professional about Zepbound and how to take it. Your healthcare practitioner is the best person to help you determine whether Zepbound is suitable for you.

ZP CON CBS 08NOV2023

Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries, and affiliates own or license the registered trademarks Zepbound® and its delivery device foundation.

INDICATION AND SAFETY SUMMARY, WITH WARNINGS

Mounjaro® (pronounced mown-JAHR-OH) is an injectable drug for adults with type 2 diabetes that is used in conjunction with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar levels.

It is unclear whether Mounjaro can be utilized in persons who have suffered pancreatic inflammation. Mounjaro is not recommended for patients with type 1 diabetes. It is unclear whether Mounjaro is safe and effective for usage in children under the age of 18.

Warnings: Mounjaro may cause thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. Look for signs of a lump or enlargement in the neck, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor.

Do not take Mounjaro if you or anybody in your family has had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).

Mounjaro should not be used if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Do not use Mounjaro if you have an allergy to it or any of its ingredients.

Mounjaro may have major negative effects, such as:

Pancreatic inflammation: Stop using Mounjaro and contact your doctor straight away if you have severe stomach discomfort (abdomen) that does not go away, with or without vomiting. You may experience pain across your abdomen and back.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): If you use Mounjaro with another blood sugar-lowering medication, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin, your chances of developing low blood sugar may increase. Low blood sugar symptoms may include dizziness or lightheadedness, perspiration, confusion or sleepiness, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, irritability, or mood swings, hunger, weakness, and jitteriness.

Severe allergic responses: Stop taking Mounjaro and get medical attention right away if you experience any of the following symptoms of a significant allergic reaction: swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching, fainting or feeling disoriented, and a very rapid heartbeat.

Kidney troubles (failure):Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting can induce fluid loss (dehydration) in persons with kidney difficulties, exacerbating the condition. You should drink enough of fluids to lower your chances of becoming dehydrated.

Severe stomach issues: People who use Mounjaro have reported stomach problems, some of which are serious. Tell your doctor if you experience serious stomach troubles that won’t go away.

Changes in vision: If your vision changes while taking Mounjaro, notify your healthcare provider.

Gallbladder issues: Some Mounjaro users have reported gallbladder troubles. If you experience symptoms of gallbladder difficulties, such as pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored feces, see your doctor immediately.

Common side effects

The most common Mounjaro side effects are nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, indigestion, and stomach discomfort. These aren’t the only probable Mounjaro side effects. Inform your healthcare practitioner if you are experiencing any side effects that are bothering you or are persistent.

Inform your healthcare practitioner if you experience any side effects. To report side effects, call 1-800-FDA-1088 or visit www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Before using Mounjaro

Before you begin using Mounjaro for the first time, your healthcare provider should demonstrate how to use it.

Consult your healthcare professional about low blood sugar and how to treat it.
If you take birth control tablets orally, see your doctor before using Mounjaro. Birth control pills may not be as effective while taking Mounjaro. Your healthcare practitioner may advise you to use another method of birth control for the first four weeks after starting Mounjaro and for each subsequent four-week increase in dose.

Discuss these questions with your healthcare provider:

❑ Do you have other medical conditions, such as problems with your pancreas or kidneys, or serious stomach problems, such as sluggish emptying (gastroparesis) or difficulty digesting food?
❑ Do you take any other diabetes medications, like insulin or sulfonylurea?
❑ Have you ever had diabetic retinopathy?
❑ Are you pregnant, planning to get pregnant, breastfeeding, or intending to breastfeed? It is unclear whether Mounjaro will harm your unborn child or pass into your breast milk.
❑ Do you take any additional prescription or over-the-counter medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements?

How To Take

Read Mounjaro’s instructions for use.
Follow the instructions provided by your healthcare professional when using Mounjaro.
Mounjaro is injected subcutaneously into your stomach, thigh, or upper arm.
Use Mounjaro once every week, at any time of day.
Do not combine insulin with Mounjaro in the same injection.
You can inject Mounjaro and insulin in the same body location (such as your stomach), but not exactly next to each other.
Change (rotate) your injection site every week. Do not inject at the same place each time.
If you take too much Mounjaro, contact your healthcare practitioner or seek medical assistance immediately.

Learn more

Mounjaro is a prescription medication. For additional information, call 1-833-807-MJRO (833-807-6576) [or visit www.mounjaro.com].

This overview includes basic information about Mounjaro but does not cover all of the available information regarding this drug. Read the information that comes with your medication every time it is filled. This material is not intended to replace a conversation with your healthcare physician. Consult your healthcare practitioner about Mounjaro and how to take it. Your healthcare practitioner is the best person to advise you on whether Mounjaro is a good fit for you.

TR CON CBS, 14SEP2022

Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries, and affiliates own or license the registered trademarks Mounjaro® and its delivery device foundation.

About Lilly

Lilly is a medical company that transforms knowledge into therapy to improve people’s lives all over the world. We’ve been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and our medications now benefit over 51 million people worldwide. Our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world’s most significant health challenges: redefining diabetes care; treating obesity and reducing its most devastating long-term effects; advancing the fight against Alzheimer’s disease; providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders; and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into With each stride toward a healthier world, we are inspired by one goal: to improve the lives of millions of people. This means conducting creative clinical studies that reflect our world’s diversity, as well as aiming to make our medications more accessible and cheap. For additional information, please visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/news, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. P-LLY

I did not control for type 1 errors

ii The efficacy estimand represents efficacy if all patients stayed on randomized treatment for the entire scheduled term (up to 176 weeks).

iii The treatment-regimen estimand represents efficacy regardless of adherence to the randomized treatment.

Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), including statements about tirzepatide injection for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide as a potential long-term therapy for adults with pre-diabetes, obesity or overweight, and the timeline for future presentations and other milestones relating to tirzepatide and its clinical trials, and reflects Lilly’s current However, like with any pharmaceutical product, there are significant dangers and uncertainties in the process of research development. commercialization. Among other things, there is no guarantee that planned or existing trials will be completed as planned, that future research results will be consistent with those obtained thus far, that tirzepatide will acquire additional regulatory clearances, or that tirzepatide will be commercially successful. For a more in-depth discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, please see Lilly’s most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly has no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events occurring after the date of this release.

Mpox: What You Need to Know About the Latest Public Health Emergency

Maria Sabir
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Mpox: What You Need to Know About the Latest Public Health Emergency 
Mpox: What You Need to Know About the Latest Public Health Emergency

But what is it, where did it originate from, and how can the world deal with the threat, which unavoidably invokes memories of previous pandemics such as COVID-19 and the early spread of HIV infections?

Here’s what you should know.

What is mpox?

Formerly known as monkeypox, the viral disease can spread between people, primarily through personal contact, and infrequently from the environment to humans via objects and surfaces touched by an infected person.

According to the WHO, mpox first appeared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970 and was neglected there.

“It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself,” stated Dimie Ogoina, chair of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee, which advises WHO on such issues.

The infectious disease, which was endemic in central and west Africa, later produced a global outbreak in 2022, prompting a WHO public health emergency in July as it spread across multiple countries.

Following a series of meetings with global experts, WHO has adopted the new preferred name “mpox” as a synonym for monkey pox. Find out more about the ruling here.

What exactly are the symptoms?

Common mpox symptoms include a two to four-week rash that may be preceded or followed by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and enlarged lymph nodes.

The rash resembles blisters and can appear on the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, groin, genital and/or anal regions, mouth, throat, and eyes. The number of sores can vary from one to several thousand.

People with mpox are considered infectious until all of their blisters have crusted over, the scabs have dropped off, a new layer of skin has developed beneath, and all lesions on the eyes and body have healed. Typically, it takes two to four weeks.

According to reports, those who have had mpox can become infected again.

People with severe mpox may require hospitalization, supportive care, and antiviral medications to decrease the severity of the lesions and shorten the healing time.

How does mpox spread?

Human to Human: Touching, sex, chatting, or breathing close to someone with mpox can all produce dangerous respiratory particles, but WHO says more research is needed to understand how the virus spreads during epidemics in various situations and environments.

Scientists know that the virus can survive for some time on clothing, bedding, towels, furniture, electronics, and surfaces that have been handled by a person with mpox. Others who come into contact with these materials may become infected if they do not wash their hands before contacting their eyes, nose, or mouth.

The virus can also be transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy, during or after birth by skin-to-skin contact, or through intimate contact between a parent with mpox and an infant or kid.

Although obtaining mpox from an asymptomatic person has been documented, there is still little evidence on whether the virus may be transmitted from someone who has the virus before they develop symptoms or after their lesions heal.

Humans to animals: Because many kinds of animals are known to be sensitive to the virus, the virus has the potential to spread from humans to animals in a variety of contexts.

People who have been diagnosed with or think they have mpox should avoid close physical contact with animals, especially pets such as cats, dogs, hamsters, and gerbils, livestock, and wildlife.

Animals to humans: Anyone who has physical contact with an animal that possesses the virus, such as a monkey or a terrestrial rodent like a tree squirrel, may have mpox. Such exposure can occur as a result of bites or scratches, as well as during activities like hunting, skinning, trapping, or meal preparation. The virus can also be transmitted through eating tainted meat that has not been completely cooked.

Could it be fatal?

Yes, for a small minority. Between 0.1 and 10% of those afflicted with mumps have died.

According to the UN health agency, fatality rates in different settings might vary due to a variety of circumstances, including access to health care and underlying immunosuppression, as well as undiagnosed or advanced HIV.

In most cases, mpox symptoms resolve on their own within a few weeks with supportive care, such as pain or fever medication; nevertheless, in rare cases, the sickness can be severe, leading to complications and death.

Newborn newborns, children, pregnant women, and those with preexisting immune weaknesses, such as those caused by advanced HIV, may be more vulnerable to severe mpox illness and mortality.

Is there a vaccination?

Yes. Several vaccines against mumps are recommended by the United Nations’ health organization. However, mass vaccination, which was implemented during the COVID-19 global pandemic, is not currently recommended.

Many years of research have resulted in the creation of improved and safer vaccines for the now-eradicated smallpox. Some of these vaccinations have been licensed in several countries for use against mumps.

Currently, WHO recommends using the MVA-BN or LC16 vaccinations, or the ACAM2000 vaccine if the others are not available.

According to the WHO, only people who are at risk of contracting mpox should be considered for vaccination. Travelers who have been assessed as at-risk by their healthcare provider may want to consider vaccination.

How do you prevent mumps?

Cleaning and sanitizing surfaces or things, as well as washing your hands after handling potentially infected surfaces or objects, can all help to avoid transmission.

To limit the danger of contracting mpox from animals, avoid unprotected contact with wild animals, particularly those that are sick or dead, including their meat and blood.

In nations where animals carry the virus, all foods containing animal parts or meat should be fully cooked before consumption.

Undergraduate Admissions Following The 2023 Supreme Court Verdict: Q&A

Maria Sabir
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0
Undergraduate Admissions Following The 2023 Supreme Court Verdict: Q&A 
Undergraduate Admissions Following The 2023 Supreme Court Verdict: Q&A

Earlier today, MIT Admissions revealed demographic data for the undergraduate Class of 2028, the first class admitted following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard, which prohibited the use of race in undergraduate admissions. As Dean of Admissions and Student Financial Services Stu Schmill ’86 predicted in a blog post last June, the court’s decision has resulted in a decrease in the number of first-year students who come from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

MIT News spoke with Schmill about the shift, why diversity is important in MIT education, and what comes next. Schmill also posted a personal reflection on the MIT Admissions blog.

Q: How will the Supreme Court’s judgment affect the MIT Class of 2028?

The Supreme Court declared last June that federally funded colleges and universities may no longer consider race in undergraduate admissions decisions. As I stated in a blog post at the time, we anticipated that this would result in fewer students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups enrolling at MIT. That’s what occurred.

As a baseline, in recent years, around 25% of our undergraduate students have identified as Black, Hispanic, Native American, or Pacific Islander. That figure applies to the incoming Class of 2028 at around 16%. (According to federal data, 45% of K–12 pupils in American public schools belong to one of these groups.)

While this is a significant shift in the demographic composition of the Class of 2028 compared to previous years, I want to emphasize that it has no aggregate impact on the quantifiable characteristics we use to predict academic success at MIT, such as high school performance or standardized test scores. According to these indicators, this cohort is equally poised to flourish in our program as other recent classes that were more diverse.

I underline this important point since many individuals have informed me throughout the years that MIT should only focus about academic success and not diversity. However, every student we enroll, regardless of circumstances, is already at the far right end of the academic excellence spectrum. During my tenure as dean, we only accepted applicants who met our exceptionally high standard of academic preparedness. Recognizing the significant educational benefits of diversity, we attempted to create a class from that highly qualified group that reflected both breadth and excellence in terms of collective interests, aptitudes, and experiences.

Our accomplishments on and off campus demonstrate our success in achieving academic excellence and broad diversity. As MIT has become more diverse in recent years, aggregate academic performance, as well as retention and graduation rates, have improved to all-time highs for students from all backgrounds. According to data from the American Society for Engineering Education, during the previous ten years, MIT has graduated more engineers from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups than any other private college or university. (and practically all public colleges in the United States), while also being largely considered the world’s leading STEM institution and a key source of innovation. Our community’s simultaneous achievements demonstrate a synthesis of diversity and greatness, rather than a conflict between the two.

Q: Why is diversity important in an MIT education?

Based on empirical facts and personal experience, I am confident that MIT education is most effective when our student body is broadly varied, above and beyond a high standard of academic achievement.

Any MIT graduate will tell you that they learnt just as much from their peers as from their instructors; that was certainly true for me as a Course 2 [mechanical engineering major] in the 1980s, as it is for my advisees now. When you bring together people with diverse perspectives and experiences who have common interests, aptitudes, and a commitment to MIT’s goal, they contribute their own gifts to collective success.

We also need variety to attract the top students. As MIT has become more diverse, more of the most talented students in the country from all backgrounds have chosen to enroll, and they particularly tell us in surveys that attending a diverse university is important to them and that they value this aspect of their MIT education.

It is not a surprise that today’s students desire a diverse campus community; they represent the most multiracial, multiethnic, and multicultural generation of Americans in history. Another reason we value diversity is because it helps us attract the best talent for the next generation of scientists, engineers, and knowledge creators.

Q: Why did MIT have to consider race in the past to achieve diverse classes?

A: As we stated in our amicus brief in the SFFA case, the educational benefits of diversity are well known. Empirical research shows that what matters for creativity and innovation is a team of highly qualified people with diverse experiences and backgrounds working together to produce novel solutions to difficult issues.

Unfortunately, there is still ongoing and deep racial inequity in American K–12 education, particularly in STEM. This means that carrying the variety of American public schools into higher education is challenging from the start.

Let’s begin with these unsettling facts. According to federal data, among public high schools where 75% or more of the students are black or Hispanic:

Many schools do not provide calculus, computer science, or physics courses.

According to research, kids who do not have the opportunity to develop a good foundation in math and science in high school are significantly less likely to graduate with a STEM degree. Meanwhile, Stanford University’s Educational Opportunity Project found that school segregation, which is strongly linked to achievement differences, has consistently expanded since the early 1990s. By some measurements, school segregation has reached levels not seen since Brown v. Board of Education 70 years ago.

In our daily work at the MIT Admissions office, we witness directly the startling amount of ongoing educational disparity in the United States. Whether we are on the road or at home perusing applications, we may observe disparities in opportunities from state to state, district to district, school to school, and even within schools.

We’ve tried to help address these gaps by pointing prospective students to free materials that can help them better prepare for college-level STEM work, whether at MIT or elsewhere. In my blog article today, I discuss MIT’s long tradition of providing educational opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds. I believe MIT can, will, and must do even more to open a window of opportunity in the future.

Q: What does all of this mean?

Prior to the SFFA decision, we could utilize race as one of several factors to identify well-prepared children who emerged from an unequal K–12 educational environment. We could see that these individuals met our high academic criteria, were a good fit for our program, and would thrive at MIT.

Following the SFFA judgment, we are no longer able to use race in the same way, which is reflected in the Class of 2028 outcome. We did not collect racial or ethnicity information from candidates this year, so we do not have data on the applicant pool. However, I am confident that we excluded many well-qualified, well-matched applicants from historically underrepresented backgrounds who would have been admitted and flourished in the past.

I’d like to underline that this shift in the composition of our incoming class is not attributable to our restored testing requirement. In fact, the class we admitted last year under the testing requirement had the highest proportion of students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds in MIT history, thanks to universal testing, which allowed us to identify objectively well-qualified students who lacked other opportunities to demonstrate their preparation. As I stated at the time, standardized examinations are undoubtedly imperfect, but they are, in significant ways, less uneven than other options.

We will continue to use the tests to help identify students who could not otherwise demonstrate their readiness for our education; however, the SFFA decision limits our ability to select a class from among the well-qualified pool of applicants that intentionally draws from a diverse range of backgrounds.

Q: Where will MIT go from here?

Given the demonstrated educational benefits, we continue to evaluate many types of diversity, including future fields of study and research, extracurricular activities and accomplishments, as well as economic, geographic, and educational backgrounds—but not race.

Following the ruling, we enhanced recruitment and financial aid activities aimed at increasing access to MIT for students from all backgrounds. These efforts include a new focused outreach campaign that identifies and encourages students from rural America to apply to MIT. They also include a new policy in which most families earning less than $75,000 per year pay nothing to attend—the type of unambiguous commitment that has been demonstrated to reduce barriers. It has enabled us to quintuple the number of students we match via QuestBridge, a nationwide talent search initiative for high-achieving, low-income adolescents of all backgrounds. This underscores the MIT leadership’s ongoing commitment to making our education affordable to all through the $165 million we invest annually in undergraduate financial aid.

Clearly, we still need to do more to guarantee that MIT remains a magnet for top talent from all backgrounds. My team has been meeting with teacher, student, and administrative leadership to brainstorm potential future initiatives. And in her community statement today, President Kornbluth emphasized her commitment to making an MIT education available to those “whose talent and potential have been masked or limited” by institutional and societal circumstances. This was the allegation of the Task Force on Educational Opportunity convened by former MIT president Paul Gray in 1968. Through this continuous effort, we hope to determine the best course ahead for the Institute of today and future generations.

To be clear, there is no simple “hack” to address racial inequity. But MIT does not shy away from difficult problems in science or society, and we will do everything we can, within the limits of the law, to continue providing an extremely rigorous and inclusive educational experience that our current, previous, and future students can be proud of.

Seven Things We Learned From The Gamescom Opening Night

Maria Sabir
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Seven Things We Learned From The Gamescom Opening Night 
Seven Things We Learned From The Gamescom Opening Night

If there is one thing the world’s game studios need right now, it is a little bit of excitement.

It has been a year without any significant new console debuts, as well as strikes and layoffs affecting thousands of workers.

The opening night of Gamescom is frequently an opportunity for a big, flashy night to get fans psyched for the year ahead.

Setting the tone for the coming year, here are the most important takeaways from Europe’s largest gaming event in Germany.

A Borderlands sequel

In a year when games became films and films became games, the convention center in Cologne hosted a night dedicated to the big trailer.

This year, Borderlands has received notice for its film adaptation, which stars Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart.

The film garnered some of the toughest reviews of the year, but it hasn’t stopped plans for a new game in the primary series.

We don’t know much about the game yet, except that it’s planned to release in 2025.

There are no specific platforms mentioned yet, but this one is expected to be available on the PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox’s newest system.

Call of Duty brings us back to the Gulf War



We already knew that Black Ops 6 would take place during the First Gulf War of the 1990s.

We’ve now taken a look at one of the single-player campaign objectives, which features high-speed chases and close-quarter gunfights.

This launch is already being closely monitored.

It is the first time a Call of Duty title will be available on Microsoft’s subscription service, Game Pass, on day one.

Anyone who subscribes to that service will receive this game for free, whereas PlayStation owners would have to pay roughly £70 ($90).

Indiana Jones receives a release date

Bethesda, which is now part of Microsoft’s huge collection of companies, hopes to keep hype for its Indiana Jones game alive by announcing a release date.

Titled Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, we discovered that it will be available before the end of the year—at least if you plan to play it on Xbox or PC. Those gamers will be able to get their hands on it starting December 9, just in time for the holiday shopping season.

There have been doubts about whether this game would make it to its competitors’ platforms; however, it has been confirmed that a version for the PlayStation 5 is in production. That will not be ready until spring 2025, however.

One of the night’s more surprising reveals was a co-op combat game called King of Meat.
Not another cookery game, but a novel take on a dungeon crawler in which you can work together with your buddies to survive a twisted reality show competition.

This one is published by Amazon Games and produced by Guildford-based indie firm Glowmade, which was founded by former workers of Fable developer Lionhead Studios.

Speaking of team-based multiplayer games, NetEase Games has set a December 6 release date for its free-to-play shooter, Marvel Rivals.

Many familiar characters, such as Captain America, Black Panther, and Iron Man, will entice new players to join.

We also obtained a new gameplay clip, which reveals that this game will have a lot in common with the popular hero shooter Overwatch.

A unique take on the world of Fable

Does the name Peter Molyneux seem familiar to you?

As one of the key designers of the fantasy epic Fable, we now know that he is working on a new project called Masters of Albion.

If you’re a fan of the Fable series, you’ll recognize Albion as the name of the world in which the games take place. Curiously, this one does not appear to be situated in the same universe as the previous Fable games.

The trailer demonstrated a top-down real-time strategy game with aspects of resource management and questing.

One more item… from the Mafia

To finish the evening, we got a quick look at a new project from Hangar 13 in the Mafia series.

It will be named Mafia: The Old Country, and while no release date or launch window has been announced, additional information is expected in December. It wouldn’t surprise me if that was widely featured at the Game Awards.

An Implanted Sensor May Reverse Opioid Overdoses

Maria Sabir
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An Implanted Sensor May Reverse Opioid Overdoses 
An Implanted Sensor May Reverse Opioid Overdoses

In 2023, more than 100,000 Americans perished as a result of opioid overdoses. The most effective technique to save someone who has overdosed is to inject naloxone; however, a first responder or witness may not be able to reach the individual in time.

Researchers at MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital have created a novel device that they think will help minimize these delays and perhaps save the lives of overdose victims. The device, approximately the size of a stick of gum, can be implanted beneath the skin to monitor heart rate, breathing rate, and other vital indications. When it detects an overdose, it quickly administers Naloxone.

In a study published today in the journal Gadget, researchers demonstrated that the gadget can successfully reverse overdoses in animals. With further study, the researchers hope that this strategy will provide a new alternative for preventing overdose deaths in high-risk individuals, such as those who have previously survived an overdose.

“This could really address a significant unmet need in the population that suffers from substance abuse and opiate dependency to help mitigate overdoses, with the initial focus on the high-risk population,” says Giovanni Traverso, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the senior author of the study.

The paper’s lead authors are Hen-Wei Huang, a former MIT visiting scientist and currently an assistant professor of electrical and electronic engineering at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore; Peter Chai, an associate professor of emergency medicine physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital; SeungHo Lee, a research scientist at MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research; and Tom Kerssemakers and Ali Imani, former master’s students at Brigham

An implanted device

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, which means it can bind to opioid receptors and inhibit the effects of other opioids like heroin and fentanyl. The medicine, which can be provided via injection or nasal spray, can restore normal breathing within a few minutes.

However, many victims overdose alone, and they may not obtain help in time to save their lives. Furthermore, with a new wave of synthetic, more potent opioids sweeping the United States, opioid overdoses can occur more quickly and unexpectedly. To address this, several researchers are developing wearable devices that can detect an overdose and dispense naloxone, but none of them have yet been successful. The MIT/BWH team set out to create an implanted device that is less bulky, delivers naloxone directly into the subcutaneous tissue, and eliminates the need for the patient to remember to wear it.

The researchers developed a gadget with sensors that can measure heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. In an animal study, the researchers utilized the sensors to analyze all of these signals and see how they changed following a fentanyl overdose. This resulted in a novel algorithm that improves the device’s sensitivity for accurately detecting opioid overdose and distinguishing it from other conditions when breathing is reduced, such as sleep apnea.

This study found that fentanyl causes a reduction in heart rate, followed by a slowing of breathing. By analyzing how these signals altered, the researchers were able to determine when naloxone should be administered.

“The most challenging aspect of developing an engineering solution to prevent overdose mortality is simultaneously addressing patient adherence and willingness to adopt new technology, combating stigma, minimizing false positive detections, and ensuring the rapid delivery of antidotes,” according to Huang. “Our proposed solution tackles these unmet needs by developing a miniaturized robotic implant equipped with multisensing modalities, continuous monitoring capabilities, on-board decision-making, and an innovative micropumping mechanism.”

The device also has a small reservoir that holds up to 10 milligrams of naloxone. When an overdose is detected, a pump is activated, releasing the naloxone within roughly 10 seconds.

In animal trials, the researchers discovered that administering this medicine could reverse the symptoms of an overdose 96% of the time.

“We designed a closed-loop system that can identify the onset of the opiate overdose and then release the antidote, and then you see that recovery,” Traverso explains.”

Preventing Overdoses

The researchers hope that this technology can be used to assist patients who are at the highest risk of overdose, beginning with those who have previously overdosed. They now intend to research ways to make the device as user-friendly as feasible, including variables such as the best placement for implantation.

“Providing naloxone to people at critical moments of risk is an important component of combating the opioid epidemic. Our objective for this device is for it to be integrated into the cascade of harm-reduction methods to rapidly and safely dispense naloxone, reducing opioid overdose deaths and offering the opportunity to support patients with opioid use disorder,” says Chai.

The researchers intend to test the device on humans in the next three to five years. They are currently working on further miniaturizing the gadget and optimizing the on-board battery, which can give power for up to two weeks.

Novo Nordisk, the McGraw Family Foundation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering all provided funding for the study.

‘I Was Addicted To Smoking Spice Vapes In School’

Maria Sabir
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‘I Was Addicted To Smoking Spice Vapes In School’ 
'I Was Addicted To Smoking Spice Vapes In School'

“I didn’t care how expensive it was; I didn’t care if I had any money left; I just wanted to buy it.”
Rather than studying schoolwork or spending time with friends, 14-year-old Ben (whose identity has been altered) was obsessed with obtaining the narcotic spice.

“I became dependent on it, and I felt like a drug addict. I realised I was doing it to feel normal and regulated,” he divulges to the BBC.

He claims he first tasted a Spice vape at a friend’s residence, believing it contained THC, the major psychoactive element in cannabis.

Vapes were stored in ancient teddy bears.

What was in the vaporizer was a synthetic cannabinoid, a laboratory-created medication designed to mimic the effects of cannabis.

“After using it [Spice] for a while, I realised the effects of real THC would be different,” Ben recalls.

“I don’t know why I didn’t realise this sooner, but the colour was very artificial—bright blue or red—obviously, that’s not from a plant.”

His testimony comes as a recent investigation reveals that spice is found in one out of every six vapes tested in 38 English schools.

The drug can be more dangerous and unpredictable than cannabis, causing dizziness, breathing difficulties, heart palpitations, psychosis, and seizures.

Ben, who is now 16, believes he was fortunate not to experience any immediate harmful reactions; however, little is known about the long-term repercussions of spice use, particularly in minors.

“I found myself doing it every second of the day,” he jokes.

“I’d be like, ‘oh, you’re not as high as you were 10 minutes ago’, so I’d have another bit.”
He claims he used his vape everywhere, including classrooms at school.

Spice is less expensive to produce than cannabis but has far more intense effects, and many individuals who buy Spice vapes assume they are receiving genuine THC.

Ben’s mother, Katie, whose name we have also changed, claims she discovered he was taking Spice vapes from his friends’ parents.

“They [his friends] managed to stop because they knew it was bad, but he couldn’t,” according to her.

“He used to hide them in the gutter above his bedroom window and in the toilet cistern. I’d cut open his old teddy bears and he’d stashed them in there. My husband and I didn’t know what to do.”

‘Vicious Cycle’

Spice and THC vapes are banned in the United Kingdom and, like nicotine vapes, cannot be purchased at corner stores or supermarkets.

It is also prohibited to sell a vape or any nicotine-containing product to anyone under the age of 18.

Ben says he obtained his from a dealer he located on social media, and they met at a nearby train station.

“Without it [Spice], everything would feel really dull; I’d feel demotivated,” he maintains.

“I knew it was bad for me but I was in a vicious cycle of needing to get more and as soon as I had finished one, I’d get another one—even when I’d get one confiscated, I’d immediately be set on getting another one.”
He claims that what began as “communal activity” became “very solitary” once he got addicted.


Prof. Chris Pudney of the University of Bath investigated the use of Spice vapes in schools using a portable gadget capable of detecting synthetic substances quickly.

He and his crew gathered confiscated vapes from 38 schools in England, including London, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and South Yorkshire.

He discovered that out of roughly 600 confiscated vapes, one in six contained Spice and one in 100 contained THC.

“Our research into understanding Spice vapes started in prisons, where usage is endemic and causes a great deal of harm—nearly half of all non-natural deaths in prisons are associated with Spice,” Professor Pudney informs us.

The number of children collapsing in schools after using Spice vapes is “so high,” he claims, and it is difficult to locate a school “where a child hasn’t collapsed” due to suspected Spice use.
‘Spice is a gateway drug.’

Prof Pudney has also heard of youngsters spending time in intensive care after experiencing cardiac arrest, and he is “worried about the summer” when children are not attending school.

He explains, “If a child uses one alone in their bedroom and has a cardiac arrest, they don’t have people around them, unlike in schools, where effective CPR can be performed and an ambulance called.

“That’s where the risk really lies—you can self-regulate nicotine consumption but, with Spice, it’s so potent that you can use a relatively small amount and have a serious outcome.”

What are the effects of consuming Spice?

Feeling dizzy and confused.
Mood swings
Anxiety and Paranoia
Suicidal ideas.
Memory issues and amnesia.
Nausea and vomiting.
Hot flushes.
Increased heart rate and blood pressure, which can cause chest discomfort, damage to your heart, and possibly a heart attack.
Tremors, convulsions, and fits.

The professor has been developing technologies to identify chemicals in vapes instantly.

He has been collaborating with Devon and Cornwall Police, who are testing one of his gadgets to better determine the prevalence of spice use in the area.

The work is being overseen by their narcotics liaison officer, Det Con Nick Burnett, who refers to Spice as a “gateway drug.”.

He expresses concern about youth going into debt with drug traffickers and becoming involved in criminality.

“Continued use of spice affects everybody differently; it can lead to unconsciousness, which can leave you in a very vulnerable position,” according to the officer.

According to Det Con Burnett, violence against women and girls is on the rise in the area, and he is concerned about the possibility of blackmail, the use of drug-related films of youngsters, and possibly physical or sexual assault.

Most synthetic cannabinoids are classified as Class B substances, making them unlawful to possess, distribute, or sell.

After being grounded by his mother and without money, a phone, or the ability to leave the house, Ben claims it “clicked” that he didn’t need the drug.

He says he used it for less than a year and spent hundreds of pounds on it.
“I felt really empty, like a shell of myself,” he recalls about the withdrawal.


“I didn’t do it for two, three weeks—your body readjusts and I didn’t feel the urge to do it any more; it was kind of like my life was back to normal,” says the man.

Harm reduction charity Cranstoun believes that the best way to stay safe is to avoid using vapes at all. However, if someone does purchase a new batch or type of THC vape, they should inhale once and softly to analyze its effects.

It further advises not using a vape in the presence of others and to call an ambulance right away if you or another vape user becomes concerned.

Nasa Citizen Scientists Spot Object Moving One Million Miles Per Hour

Maria Sabir
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Nasa Citizen Scientists Spot Object Moving One Million Miles Per Hour

Nasa Citizen Scientists Spot Object Moving One Million Miles Per Hour

They utilized data from NASA’s WISE telescope, which subsequently became the NEOWISE mission, to find the dim, fast-moving object speeding out of the Milky Way.

The Milky Way’s most familiar stars circle quietly in its core. However, citizen scientists working on NASA’s Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project have assisted in the discovery of an object moving so quickly that it will leave the Milky Way’s gravity and travel into intergalactic space. This is the first hypervelocity object discovered with the mass of a tiny star.


Backyard Worlds incorporates photos from NASA’s WISE, or Wide Field Infrared Explorer, mission, which scanned the sky in infrared light from 2009 to 2011. It was reactivated as NEOWISE (Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) in 2013 and is scheduled to be deactivated on August 8, 2024.

Longtime Backyard Worlds citizen scientists Martin Kabatnik, Thomas P. Bickle, and Dan Caselden discovered CWISE J124909.08+362116.0 in WISE pictures a few years ago. Follow-up observations with various ground-based telescopes enabled scientists to confirm the discovery and characterize the object. These citizen scientists are now co-authors on the team’s research on this discovery, which has been published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters (pre-print version accessible here).

“I can’t describe the level of excitement,” said Kabatnik, a citizen scientist from Nuremberg, Germany. “When I first saw how fast it was moving, I was convinced it must have been reported already.”

CWISE J1249 is speeding out of the Milky Way at around 1 million mph. However, it stands out for its low mass, making it difficult to categorize as a celestial object. It might be a low-mass star, or if it does not consistently fuse hydrogen in its core, it would be classified as a brown dwarf, falling in between a gas giant planet and a star.

Ordinary brown dwarfs are not extremely rare. Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 volunteers have discovered nearly 4,000 of them! However, none of the others are known to be leaving the galaxy.

This new thing has yet another distinguishing feature. Data from the W. M. Keck Observatory in Maunakea, Hawaii, demonstrate that it has significantly less iron and other metals than other stars and brown dwarfs. This odd composition indicates that CWISE J1249 is exceedingly old, most likely from one of our galaxy’s early generations of stars.

Why is this item moving at such high speeds? One idea is that CWISE J1249 originated in a binary system with a white dwarf, which burst as a supernova after removing too much material from its companion. Another idea is that it came from a densely packed collection of stars known as a globular cluster, and a chance encounter with a pair of black holes blew it away.

“When a star encounters a black hole binary, the complex dynamics of this three-body interaction can toss that star right out of the globular cluster,” explains Kyle Kremer, an incoming assistant professor at UC San Diego’s Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Scientists will investigate the elemental makeup of CWISE J1249 to determine which of these scenarios is more likely.

This finding wasthe result of a collaborative effort on numerous levels, involving volunteers, experts, and students. Kabatnik thanks other citizen scientists for assisting him in his quest, notably Melina Thévenot, who “blew my mind with her personal blog about doing searches using Astronomical Data Query Language,” he added. Frank Kiwy, a citizen scientist, wrote software that contributed to this discovery, he said.

Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 scientific team member Adam Burgasser, a professor at the University of California, San Diego, leads the study, which also features co-authors Hunter Brooks and Austin Rothermich, astronomy students who started their careers as citizen scientists.

Become a citizen scientist

Do you want to help discover the next spectacular space object? Join Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 now; anyone from any country can participate.

Podcast

Check out this NASA’s Curious Universe audio episode to hear personal experiences from citizen scientists working on NASA-related projects.

Hamas claims that the progress made in the Gaza ceasefire is fiction.

Maria Sabir
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Hamas claims that the progress made in the Gaza ceasefire is fiction. 
Hamas claims that the progress made in the Gaza ceasefire is fiction.

Hamas has dismissed reports of progress on an Israel-Gaza peace agreement as an illusion, following US President Joe Biden’s statement that he was “optimistic.“.

President Biden stated on Friday that “we are closer than we have ever been” after two days of US-sponsored negotiations in Qatar.

On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israeli negotiators indicated “cautious optimism” about reaching a deal.

However, a senior Hamas official earlier told the BBC that there had been no progress and that mediators were “selling illusions.”.

In response to an extraordinary strike on southern Israel on October 7, the Israeli military launched an operation in Gaza to crush Hamas, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

More than 40,000 people have died in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

A ceasefire arrangement reached in November saw Hamas release 105 hostages in exchange for a week-long truce and the release of approximately 240 Palestinian inmates in Israeli jails. Israel claims 111 hostages are still being held, 39 of whom are thought dead.

In a recent joint statement, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt said they have proposed a plan for a cease-fire and hostage release arrangement that “narrows the gaps” between Israel and Hamas.

Israel has stated that any ceasefire agreement would entail the release of the other hostages. Some have already been released, and others are said to have perished in Gaza.

Relatives of captives still in Gaza describe the present negotiations as their “last chance” to bring some of them out alive.

After ten months of combat and thousands of losses, there is intense pressure for a breakthrough.

A wider regional confrontation is a distinct possibility if talks between Israel and Hamas collapse altogether, which all parties involved are concerned about.

The mediators stated that the ceasefire talks had been “serious, constructive, and conducted in a positive atmosphere” over the last two days.

Technical teams are scheduled to continue working on the details of how to execute the suggested terms in the coming days before top government officials reconvene in Cairo in the hopes of reaching an agreement on the terms set forth in Qatar.

While the mediators’ declaration is undoubtedly a welcome development, there is still a long way to go before a cease-fire is reached.

This is not the first time Mr. Biden has stated that he believes a deal is close, and not everyone shares his cautious confidence.

Neither Hamas nor the Israeli administration have been as optimistic in their reactions.

Israel claims that its viewpoint and essential principles have remained unaltered and are “well-known”. It accused Hamas of refusing to negotiate an agreement for the release of the hostages.

Above all, Israelis want the remaining hostages released, but many doubt this is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s principal desire. He has reiterated that his government’s top objective is to achieve a “total victory” over Hamas.

Meanwhile, Hamas’ new head, Yaya Sinwar, has shown few signs of compromise.

When asked about President Biden’s statement, a senior Hamas official told the BBC: “What we have received from the mediators is very disappointing.” There’s been no progress.”

Hamas is said to have abandoned its desire for a permanent truce in favour of Mr Biden’s suggestion for a six-week break during which an end to the war might be negotiated.

Mr Biden’s cease-fire proposal also called for the evacuation of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, the staggered release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and the repatriation of slain hostages’ bodies.

The “bridging proposal” put up by US, Egyptian, and Qatari negotiators will be the focus of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s negotiations in the area, and it should serve as the foundation for the next talks in Cairo, which are expected to include all parties, including Hamas.

That plan apparently “closes the remaining gaps” between the two parties’ viewpoints, perhaps allowing for “rapid implementation of the agreement.”

It may appear uncomplicated, but there are significant barriers to overcome, and there is still no confidence between senior Israeli and Hamas officials.

Others are dragging them to the table, possibly against their will, out of dread of what might happen if they fail.

Hamas and its allies believe the US administration is trying to buy more time.
If Iran attacks Israel, it will appear like Hamas has sabotaged the discussions.

Hamas is open about its desire for Iran and Hezbollah to strike Israel and escalate the conflict into a regional war.

They feel that a significant blow to Israel will weaken Mr Netanyahu and force him to accept a deal.

For his part, Mr. Biden emphasized that “no one in the region should take actions to undermine this process.”

Meanwhile, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza continues, with an air attack early Saturday morning killing 15 Palestinians in the al-Zawaida neighborhood of central Gaza, according to the

Palestinian civil defense authority, a rescue organization.

According to spokesman Mahmud Bassal, nine children and three women died.

Israel hasn’t responded directly. The Israel Defense Forces announced on Saturday morning that they had “eliminated a number of terrorists” in central Gaza, including one who had fired at Israeli forces operating in the area.

The Israeli military has issued new evacuation orders for many blocks in northern Khan Younis and Deir Balah, substantially reducing the humanitarian zone where thousands of displaced Palestinians have taken safety from fighting.

Israel stated that the blocks had become dangerous for residents “due to significant acts of terrorism” and the firing of rockets and mortars into Israel.

The UN organization for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) stated: “Once again, fear spreads as families have nowhere to go.”

The spread of the polio virus, which can be transmitted by feces, is now occurring within the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in Gaza, emphasizing the necessity for a ceasefire agreement.

“Let’s be clear: The ultimate vaccine for polio is peace and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” stated UN Secretary General António Guterres.

The Mind-Bending Mirrors Of Sophisticated Technology

Maria Sabir
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The Mind-Bending Mirrors Of Sophisticated Technology 
The Mind-Bending Mirrors Of Sophisticated Technology

The European Space Observatory (ESO) is currently erecting the world’s largest optical telescope atop a mountain in Chile’s bone-dry Atacama Desert.
The Extremely Large Telescope, or ELT, was named without delay.

Instead, a lot of effort has gone into planning and creating “the world’s biggest eye on the sky,” which will begin gathering photographs in 2028 and is quite likely to increase our understanding of the universe.

None of this would be feasible without some of the most advanced mirrors ever developed.

Dr. Elise Vernet is an adaptive optics specialist at ESO who has been in charge of developing the five huge mirrors that will collect and redirect light to the telescope’s measuring equipment.

Each of the ELT’s unique mirrors is a masterpiece of optical design.

The 14-foot (4.25-meter) convex M2 mirror is described as “a piece of art” by Dr. Vernet.
However, the M1 and M4 mirrors may best capture the level of complexity and precision required.

The M1 is the largest mirror ever built for an optical telescope.

“It’s 39 m [128 ft] in diameter, made up of [798] hexagonal mirror segments, aligned so that it behaves as a perfect monolithic mirror,” states Vernet.

M1 will capture 100 million times more light than the human eye and must preserve position and shape with 10,000 times the precision of a human hair.

The M4 is the largest deformable mirror ever created, with the ability to change shape 1,000 times per second to compensate for atmospheric turbulence and telescope vibrations that would otherwise distort vision.

Its flexible surface is composed of six petals of a glass-ceramic substance that is less than 2 mm (0.075 in) thick.

Schott created the petals in Mainz, Germany, and delivered them to Safran Reosc, an engineering firm just outside Paris, where they were polished and assembled into the entire mirror.

All five mirrors are nearly finished and will soon be transported to Chile for installation.
While these massive mirrors will be utilized to collect cosmic light, ESO’s neighbors in Garching, the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, have developed a quantum mirror that can function at the smallest sizes imaginable.

In 2020, a research team was able to create a single layer of 200 aligned atoms that act collectively to reflect light, effectively generating a mirror so small that it cannot be seen with the human eye.

In 2023, they succeeded in inserting a single microscopically controlled atom in the center of the array, resulting in a “quantum switch” that can be used to control whether the atoms are transparent or reflecting.

While these massive mirrors will be utilized to collect cosmic light, ESO’s neighbors in Garching, the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, have developed a quantum mirror that can function at the smallest sizes imaginable.

In 2020, a research team was able to create a single layer of 200 aligned atoms that act collectively to reflect light, effectively generating a mirror so small that it cannot be seen with the human eye.

In 2023, they succeeded in inserting a single microscopically controlled atom in the center of the array, resulting in a “quantum switch” that can be used to control whether the atoms are transparent or reflecting.

“What theorists predicted and we observed experimentally is that in these ordered structures, once a photon is absorbed and re-emitted, it is actually emitted [in one predictable] direction.

which is what makes it a mirror,” says Dr Pascal Weckesser, a postdoctoral researcher at the institute.

This capacity to regulate the direction of atom-reflected light may have potential uses in a variety of quantum technologies, including hack-proof quantum networks for storing and sending information.

Zeiss manufactures mirrors with another extreme characteristic to the north-west, in Oberkochen near Stuttgart.

The optics company spent years inventing an ultra-flat mirror, which is now a vital component in machines that print computer chips known as extreme ultraviolet lithography machines, or EUVs.

ASML, a Dutch business, is the world’s leading manufacturer of EUVs, and Zeiss mirrors are an integral component of them.

Zeiss’ EUV mirrors can reflect light at very short wavelengths, allowing for image clarity on a microscopic scale and increasing the number of transistors that can be produced on the same area of silicon wafer.

Dr. Frank Rohmund, president of semiconductor manufacturing optics at Zeiss, provides a topographical analogy to describe the mirrors’ flatness.

“If you took a household mirror and enlarged it to the size of Germany, the tallest point would be 5 meters. On a space mirror [such as the James Webb Space Telescope], it would be 2cm [0.75in]. “On an EUV mirror, it would be 0.1mm,” he says.

This ultra-smooth mirror surface, along with Zeiss-made systems that manage the mirror’s placement, achieves an accuracy level comparable to bouncing light off an EUV mirror on Earth’s surface and identifying a golf ball on the moon.

While those mirrors may appear severe, Zeiss has plans to upgrade them in order to aid in the development of even more powerful computer chips.

“We have ideas on how to further develop EUV. By 2030, the goal is for a microchip to include one trillion transistors. Today, we may be at one hundred billion.”

That aim was closer with Zeiss’s latest technology, which allows for the printing of almost three times more structures on the same surface than the current generation of chip manufacturing machines.

“The semiconductor industry has a dominant, robust roadmap that serves as a drumbeat for all stakeholders involved in the solution. With this, we are able to make advancements in microchip fabrication, which now enables for things like artificial intelligence that were unfathomable even ten years ago,” explains Dr. Rohmund.

What humanity will understand and be capable of in ten years’ hence remains to be seen, but mirrors will undoubtedly be key to the technology that will transport us there.

A Learner Driver Has Been Sentenced For A Tragedy That Killed Three Pals

Maria Sabir
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A Learner Driver Has Been Sentenced For A Tragedy That Killed Three Pals 
A Learner Driver Has Been Sentenced For A Tragedy That Killed Three Pals

A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to four years and eight months in prison after admitting to killing three of his companions while driving dangerously near Dumfries in March 2022.

Jake Loy, who was 17 at the time and did not have a full license, was driving on the A711 when he collided with another vehicle.

His three 16-year-old passengers, Finlay Johns, Ian Cannon, and Tyler Johnston, perished, while three males in the second car were injured.

Loy was imprisoned by the High Court in Glasgow.

Alan Johns, Finlay’s father, spoke outside the courtroom following the sentencing, claiming that the tragedy had devastated the lives of hundreds.

“There are no winners; the sentencing is what we expected, but it’s very, very lenient,” remarked the defendant.

He characterized his son as a “beautiful boy” who was “easy to lead.”

“He had his whole life in front of him; he was going to college,” he informed me.
Finlay’s brother, Grant, added, “No sentence could ever be enough; he’s taken our brother, he’s ruined our family, he’s ripped our family apart.”

Loy, who had a temporary license, had gone on a drive with his buddies on the evening of Tuesday, March 15.

He collided with another vehicle on the A711 near Cargenbridge, close outside Dumfries, around 00:15 on Wednesday morning.

The three lads from Moffat died on the scene.

Loy, along with the three individuals in the other car, sustained significant injuries.

The court had previously heard that there had been an “almighty impact” and Loy’s Honda had split in two as a result of the incident.

Prosecutors stated the driver’s inexperience and high speed were “significant factors” in his loss of control of the car.

One experienced collision investigator stated that he had “never seen damage like that to a car.”.

The court was told that a boy in the same Snapchat group as the youngsters saw a message sent by Ian Cannon prior to the incident.

He claimed: “He was saying that he was scared because Jake Loy was swerving all over the place, that he was a terrible driver, and he was flooring it.”

Donald Findlay KC, defending, stated that his client had “no recollection of the crash,” hence the cause of the loss of control could not be ascertained.

In mitigation, he told the court: “It was very telling and quite moving when he said if he could take their place, he would—he would rather it had been him.”

He stated that there had been “no badness, no malice” in the activities that led to the catastrophe.

According to reports, “very clear and strong evidence of the survivor’s guilt” exists.
In addition to his jail sentence, Loy was barred from driving for eight years and will have to take an additional test before he can drive again.

In passing punishment, Judge Lord Harrower stated that Loy was not only unqualified but also lacked knowledge of the car’s performance at high speeds and in bad conditions.”The victim impact statements all bear witness to the terrible devastation you caused to the lives of the family members of those you injured.”

He stated that no penalty could “alleviate their anguish” and that driving alone was a crucial aspect to consider.

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