That time of year China is having standard flu season despite widespread HMPV fears Data shows a completely normal respiratory illness season, WHO says. Beth Mole Jan 8, 2025 4:05 pm | 8 Children accompanied by their parents wait to receive treatment at a children's hospital amid a spike in respiratory illnesses on January 7, 2025 in Chongqing, China. Credit: Getty | Li Hongbo Children accompanied by their parents wait to receive treatment at a children's hospital amid a spike in respiratory illnesses on January 7, 2025 in Chongqing, China. Credit: Getty | Li Hongbo Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreThere's a good chance you've seen headlines about HMPV recently, with some touting "what you need to know" about the virus, aka human metapneumovirus. The answer is: not much.It's a common, usually mild respiratory virus that circulates every year, blending into the throng of other seasonal respiratory illnesses that are often indistinguishable from one another. (The pack includes influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, common human coronaviruses, bocavirus, rhinovirus, enteroviruses, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, among others.) HMPV is in the same family of viruses as RSV.As one viral disease epidemiologist at the US Centers for Disease Control summarized in 2016, it's usually "clinically indistinguishable" from other bog-standard respiratory illnesses, like seasonal flu, that cause cough, fever, and nasal congestion. For most, the infection is crummy but not worth a visit to a doctor. As such, testing for it is limited. But, like other common respiratory infections, it can be dangerous for children under age 5, older adults, and those with compromised immune systems. It was first identified in 2001, but it has likely been circulating since at least 1958.The situation in ChinaThe explosion of interest in HMPV comes after reports of a spike of HMPV infections in China, which allegedly led to hordes of masked patients filling hospitals. But none of that appears to be accurate. While HMPV infections have risen, the increase is not unusual for the respiratory illness season. Further, HMPV is not the leading cause of respiratory illnesses in China right now; the leading cause is seasonal flu. And the surge in seasonal flu is also within the usual levels seen at this time of year in China.Last week, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention released its sentinel respiratory illness surveillance data collected in the last week of December. It included the test results of respiratory samples taken from outpatients. Of those, 30 percent were positive for flu (the largest share), a jump of about 6 percent from the previous week (the largest jump). Only 6 percent were positive for HMPV, which was about the same detection rate as in the previous week (there was a 0.1 percent increase).Among hospitalized patients, flu accounted for nearly 18 percent of sampled respiratory cases (an increase of 5 percent from the previous week), while HMPV accounted for about 5 percent (an increase of 1 percent).Among outpatients, hospitalized patients, patients in southern provinces, and patients in northern provinces, influenza was the leading cause of respiratory illnesses across the board. HMPV ranked third in all categories except among outpatients in the northern provinces, where it ranked second. Across all age groups0-4, 5-14, 15-59, 60 and upinfluenza was the leading cause of respiratory illnesses.No cause for concernStill, amid drummed-up concerns, health organizations worldwide have felt compelled to address HMPV in China.In a statement released Tuesday, the World Health Organization summed up the situation:Chinas reported levels of acute respiratory infections, including hMPV, are within the expected range for the winter season with no unusual outbreak patterns reported. Chinese authorities confirmed that the health care system is not overwhelmed, hospital utilization is currently lower than this time last year, and there have been no emergency declarations or responses triggered.On Wednesday, health officials in Europe also released a statement about their lack of concern:Based on the current information, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) considers that the current epidemiological situation in China reflects a seasonal rise in respiratory infections caused by common respiratory pathogens and does not pose any specific concern for the EU/EEA.In the US, the CDC has provided media statements saying it is "monitoring reports" of HMPV and that they are "not currently a cause for concern in the US."In all, while respiratory illness season is nothing to sneeze at, HMPV fears have been overblown.Beth MoleSenior Health ReporterBeth MoleSenior Health Reporter Beth is Ars Technicas Senior Health Reporter. Beth has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the Science Communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She specializes in covering infectious diseases, public health, and microbes. 8 Comments

The Palisades Fire advancing on homes in Los AngelesEthan Swope/Associated Press/AlamyFast-moving wildfires in the Los Angeles area are burning out of control long after fire season normally ends in California. Powerful Santa Ana winds are not unusual for this time of year but they have arrived after months of drought. The combination has led to a disastrous series of fires, in a possible indication of how climate change is shifting the way fires behave in the state.While Santa Ana fires are nothing new in southern California, this type of explosive fire event has never happened in January before, and its only happened once in December, says Crystal Kolden at the University of California, Merced.As of 8 January, at least four wildfires were burning in the Los Angeles area, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The two largest fires are the Palisades fire and the Eaton fire, which have each burned more than 4000 hectares (10,000 acres) in a day. The fires have killed at least two people and destroyed at least a thousand homes, as well as forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate. The fires have also threatened NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Getty Museum.AdvertisementThe strong Santa Ana winds have reached speeds of up to 129 kilometres (80 miles) per hour, fanning the flames and driving their rapid spread. The windstorm is expected to be the most intense one since 2011, with extremely critical fire weather conditions forecast to continue through the afternoon of 8 January, according to the US National Weather Service. Fire weather could continue as late as 10 January, challenging firefighting efforts.This is the latest in a very highly improbable sequence of extreme climate and weather events that have contributed to the intense fires, says Park Williams at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The Santa Anas are a regular feature of southern California weather, but wet fall and winter weather usually limits their influence on fires. This year, that rainy weather still hasnt arrived, leaving vegetation dried out and ready to burn. Plus, there is more vegetation as fuel thanks to a wet winter in 2023 that boosted growth. Intense heat and drought throughout 2024 dried it out. Unmissable news about our planet delivered straight to your inbox every month.Sign up to newsletterThe combination of lots of fine fuel, drought and strong, hot, dry winds makes for the most explosive fire behaviour imaginable, says Kolden.Officials are still investigating what ignited the blazes. Understanding the role climate change may have played will also take some time. However, there is reason to think it has made the fires worse.Above-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, probably driven in part by climate change, have also contributed to the dry conditions. According to Daniel Swain at UCLA, these higher ocean temperatures have created a ridge of high pressure that has blocked wet weather carried on the jet stream from reaching southern California.The region has seen this kind of high-pressure weather system occur more frequently over the past fifty years, which may be a symptom of climate change, says Daniel Cayan at the University of California, San Diego.Topics:

The Starship rocket in December 2024 being prepared for its seventh flightSpaceXSpaceXs next Starship test flight will be the most ambitious to date, and the first involving a new block 2 version with a host of design updates.What is Starship?Starship is the most powerful rocket ever to fly. SpaceX aims to develop it into a rapidly reusable vehicle that can take large payloads into orbit, land back on Earth and launch another mission within hours.AdvertisementSomewhat confusingly, Starship is the name given to both the entire spacecraft, consisting of a Super Heavy booster and the ship it launches stacked together, and ship alone once it has detached from the booster.SpaceX has been rapidly iterating both Super Heavy and Starship, taking a Silicon Valley approach to design that sees regular tests and dramatic failures as simply part of the process. But this will be the first test of the so-called block 2 Starship upper stage.Whats new in Starship block 2?The company says on its website that Starships electronics have undergone a complete redesign and there are now more than 30 cameras on board. It will also have 25 per cent more propellant, stand 3.1 metres taller and have relocated front flaps. Voyage across the galaxy and beyond with our space newsletter every month.Sign up to newsletterIt also includes, for the first time, an early version of the pins necessary for it to be caught by a ground tower and reused. However, SpaceX currently has only one tower, which will be used to catch the booster, so there will be no attempt to catch Starship for reuse this time. A second tower is under construction.What will the test flight entail?SpaceX hopes the upper stage will reach space, complete a partial orbit of Earth, safely re-enter the atmosphere and make a controlled splashdown into the Indian Ocean. The Super Heavy first stage should return to the launch site and be caught by the Mechazilla or chopstick arms of the launch tower which will be the second catch if successful.The launch marks a milestone for SpaceX as Starship hardware will be reused for the first time. One of the Super Heavys 33 Raptor engines was previously used inStarships fifth test flight. That was the only test to date where the booster was safely returned, so this is the first opportunity the company has had to reuse anything.Another first will be Starships deployment of 10 fake Starlink satellites. These simulated satellites will be similar in size and weight to the companys upcoming third generation of internet-beaming hardware, and will test the ability of Starship to carry payloads to orbit and safely launch them. No previous Starship flight has carried a payload, unless you count the toy banana carried on flight 6.Numerous other small tests will be carried out during the seventh flight to provide valuable data to engineers. One of Starships Raptor engines will be relit in space, for example, and several heat-resistant tiles have been removed as a test. Several types of new heat tile, including one with active cooling, are also being tested.When will the launch take place?SpaceX has not officially named a launch date, but the companys controversial owner Elon Musk has pointed to a target of 10 January in a tweet.According to several NOTAM (Notices to Airmen a warning to pilots of unusual or potentially dangerous activity) published by the US Federal Aviation Administration, the launch window granted to the company begins at 4pm Central Standard Time (10pm UK time) on 10 January.The launch window runs until 16 January, giving the company some leeway should the launch be postponed, either due to engineering problems or unfavourable weather.As with all other Starship launches, flight 7 will lift off from SpaceXs site at Boca Chica, Texas, and will also be live-streamed online.What happened during previous Starship launches?Test flight 1on 20 April 2023 saw three of the booster stages 33 engines fail to ignite. The rocket later span out of control and self-destructed.The second test flight on 18 November 2023 got further, gaining enough altitude that the booster and upper stages separated as planned. The booster stage ultimately exploded before reaching ground level and the upper stage self-destructed, although not before successfully reaching space.Test flight 3 on 14 March 2024 was at least a partial success, as the upper stage reached space once more, but it failed to return to ground level intact.The next flight, on 6 June, saw the upper stage reach an altitude of more than 200 kilometres and travel at over 27,000 kilometres per hour. Both the booster and the upper stage completed soft splashdowns in the ocean.Test flight 5 saw the Super Heavy booster drop back to the launch pad and safely land on SpaceXs launch tower, called Mechazilla, cradled by a pair of chopsticks.Test flight 6 saw Starship successfully reach an altitude of 228 kilometres, before splashing down in the Indian Ocean. Super Heavy aborted its attempt to land at the launch tower because of a communications fault and instead made a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.Topics:SpaceX

Leader and TechnologyDone right, with real-world evidence to back up the claims and persuade doctors to adopt it, artificial intelligence has the power to enhance clinical outcomes 8 January 2025 Chris Merriam/AlamyDoctors, as a whole, are a pretty clever bunch, but they can be resistant to change. The most famous example is probably the 19th-century surgeons who refused to wash their hands when moving from mortuary to labour ward, spreading as-yet-undiscovered microbes and leading to infant deaths. Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis, who collected statistics to make the case that soap and water could save lives, was ridiculed and ostracised.Today, we live in more enlightened times, and medical practice is generally backed by evidence but are we always getting the right evidence to bring about change? For example, there are signs that bringing artificial intelligence into clinical use could also save lives. As we report in AI helps radiologists spot breast cancer in real-world tests, radiologists who chose to use an image-classifying AI to help spot breast cancer picked up an extra case per 1000 people screened. Across healthcare systems, the effect could be big.Does that mean we should encourage doctors to hang up their scrubs and let the machines take over? Far from it. While large language model AI systems like ChatGPT can ace multiple-choice medical tests, they do less well on conversational diagnoses (see AI chatbots fail to diagnose patients by talking with them). A medic with a good bedside manner and listening ear is still vital, for now.AdvertisementWe should be bolder in testing medical AI systems in real-world settingsInstead, there are two conclusions we can draw from these studies. The first is that we should be careful about using the generic term artificial intelligence. Although the two systems we report on share an underlying neural network technology, image classification is a very different task to text generation, and the latter has a much higher risk of the AI spitting out plausible but incorrect results. In other words, not all AIs are made equal.The second conclusion is that we should be bolder in testing medical AI systems in real-world settings, rather than just in the lab or simulations. The breast cancer study, by giving radiologists control over when to use AI, shows it can be a useful tool. With a push to get more evidence like this, lives could be saved, just as after Semmelweis, who is now considered a medical hero.Topics:

When Kacey Musgraves entered the music scene, she did so wearing colorful jeans and cowboy boots.Kacey Musgraves visits the New York City SiriusXM Studios in 2013. Taylor Hill/Getty Images One of her earliest appearances was in 2013 at the SiriusXM Studios in New York City.She wore red jeans, brown cowboy boots, and a denim button-up shirt for the occasion, creating a casual and classic country look.Musgraves then accessorized with gold hoop earrings, a silver nose ring, and an assortment of bangles. She quickly developed a red-carpet style that was feminine and retro.Kacey Musgraves attends the 2014 CMA Awards in Nashville. Larry Busacca/Getty Images When Musgraves walked the red carpet at the 2014 CMA Awards, she was photographed wearing a pink, short-sleeved gown designed by Oscar de la Renta.It had mesh paneling across the neckline and silver sparkles decorating the gown from top to bottom.However, it was the musician's sky-high hair that stole the show. She wore a '60s-inspired beehive with modern highlights a style that became her go-to that year. Musgraves went full Americana with her outfits in 2015.Kacey Musgraves performs at the 2015 Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California. Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images The outfit she wore to perform at Stagecoach that year is just one example.For the concert, she wore an American flag bralette, a fringe miniskirt, and blue bedazzled cowboy boots. Her accessories included sparkling tights, oversize hoop earrings, and statement red sunglasses.It was relaxed, casual, and patriotic as were many of her ensembles in 2015. The "Pageant Material" musician later blended glamorous and alternative styles.Kacey Musgraves attends the 2016 CMA Awards in Nashville. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Her former aesthetic was on display at the 2016 CMA Awards, where she wore a custom Christian Siriano ballgown.The lavender dress was strapless, crafted from tiers of tulle, and completed with a black waistband.To contrast its elegance, Musgraves wore it with smoky eye makeup and deep-purple lipstick. The singer experimented with high-fashion designs in 2018.Kacey Musgraves attends the 2018 CMA Awards in Nashville. John Shearer/Getty Images Musgraves has been wearing designer ensembles since the start of her career. But she took things to another level in 2018, specifically at the CMA Awards.She walked the red carpet that year in black trousers and a mesh blouse designed by Versace.The Western-inspired top had only a single button, creating a deep slit in the shirt's center. It was also embellished with gold Swarovski crystals across its sleeves, shoulders, and chest. The next few years were all about taking fashion risks, leading Musgraves to really come into her own around 2021.Kacey Musgraves attends the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards in Brooklyn. Rob Kim/Getty Images You couldn't miss her when she walked the red carpet at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards.Valentino designed her purple minidress, which was sleeveless, ruched, and complementary to her massive feathered hat.And the look didn't stop there. She wore see-through sandal heels and red leather gloves that extended over her elbows.The outfit was bold, fashion-forward, and, most importantly, true to Musgraves' vibrant personality. Among her fashion signatures are feathers, shades of pink, and bodysuits.Kacey Musgraves attends the 2023 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images She wore all three at the same time for the 2023 Grammy Awards.Her Valentino ensemble included a baby-pink catsuit beneath a floor-length feathered cape and pink satin heels that matched both pieces.Musgraves perfected the look with rosy pink makeup, an updo hairstyle, and minimal jewelry. Musgraves stayed true to her unique sense of style in 2024.Kacey Musgraves attends the 2024 CMA Awards in Nashville. Michael Buckner/Getty Images Returning to her Western-style roots, Musgraves attended the 2024 CMA Awards in a denim minidress.It was designed by Georges Hobeika to feature a sweetheart neckline, feathered sleeves, and teardrop crystals decorating the piece.

Polymarket lets people bet on a variety of things, like election outcomes and pop culture events.It's also taking bets on the Palisades fire in California with at least nine different wagers.Polymarket says the wisdom of the crowd can lend "unbiased forecasts for the most important events impacting society."As the Palisades fire is still tearing through parts of the Los Angeles area on Wednesday, Polymarket the prediction market platform is allowing people to place wagers on certain elements of the disaster.There were at least nine different predictions you could place money on as of Wednesday afternoon that were related to the fire. The topic had its own trending module on the site.One question asked: "Will the Palisades fire be contained by Friday?" Only 2% of bets said yes. (California officials said Wednesday morning that the fires raging through California are "zero percent" contained. Two people have been reported dead in the wake of the disaster.)Each wager has its own page on the site and on those pages with bets related to the fire was a disclaimer from Polymarket.The disclaimer reads:Note on Palisades Wildfire Markets: The promise of prediction markets is to harness the wisdom of the crowd to create accurate, unbiased forecasts for the most important events impacting society. The devastating Pacific Palisades fire is one such event, for which Polymarket can yield invaluable real-time answers to those directly impacted in ways traditional media cannot.Note: There are no fees on this market.On its site, Polymarket says that users can submit suggestions for markets, but a new prediction market, like the ones about the fire, can only be created by Polymarket.A spokesperson for Polymarket told Business Insider: "Polymarket charges no fees and generates no revenue from these markets and provides them as a service to those looking for unbiased and up-to-date information during fast-moving events."Other wagers available as of Wednesday:"Palisades fire burns 10,000 acres by Friday?" (Bettors said this was 99% "yes.")"Will Palisades fire spread to Santa Monica by Sunday?" (Bettors gave this a 14% chance.)So far, it appears the markets have drawn only small bets, with one question drawing a little more than $8,000 and another drawing more than $30,000, according to tallies on the site.Polymarket, where bets are placed in crypto, became popular during the 2024 election. It showed the odds of Donald Trump winning far above what traditional polls were showing.In addition to politics and sports, Polymarket offers bets on news and pop culture topics like Oscar nominations or the odds of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce getting engaged this year.

2025-01-08T22:08:13Z Read in app Angle down iconAn icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. Microsoft is planning job cuts in the new year, Business Insider previously reported. RICCARDO MILANI/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Job cuts are continuing into 2025 following waves of reductions last year.Companies like Microsoft, BlackRock, and Ally have all confirmed cuts.See the list of companies letting workers go in 2025.Layoffs and other workforce reductions are continuing in 2025, following two years of significant job cuts across tech, media, finance, manufacturing, and retail.While companies' reasons for slimming their staff vary, the cost-cutting measures come amid the backdrop of technological change. Some 41% of companies worldwide are expected to reduce their workforces over the next five years due to the rise of artificial intelligence, according to a recent World Economic Forum report.Companies like Dropbox, Google, and IBM have previously announced job cuts related to AI. Meanwhile, tech jobs in big data, fintech, and AI are expected to double by 2030, according to the WEF.Here are the companies with job cuts planned or already underway in 2025 so far. BlackRock is reportedly cutting 1% of its workforceBlackRock is planning layoffs, according to a recent report. Eric Thayer/Reuters BlackRock told employees it plans to cut about 200 people of its 21,000-strong workforce, according to Bloomberg.The reductions are more than offset by some 3,750 workers who were added last year and another 2,000 expected to be added in 2025.BlackRock President Rob Kapito and Chief Operating Officer Rob Goldstein said the cuts will help realign the firm's resources with its strategy, Bloomberg reported. Bridgewater is cutting approximately 90 staffBridgewater's layoffs will return its head count to where it was in 2023, a person familiar with the matter told BI. Bridgewater Associates Bridgewater Associates cut 7% of its staff on Monday in an effort to stay lean, a person familiar with the matter told Business Insider.The layoffs at the world's largest hedge fund bring its head count back to where it was in 2023, the person said.Founder Ray Dalio said in a 2019 interview that about 30% of new employees leave the firm within 18 months. The Washington Post is cutting 4% of its non-newsroom workforceThe Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post is reportedly conducting layoffs in January. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images The Washington Post is eliminating less than 100 employees in an effort to cut costs, Reuters reported Tuesday.A spokesperson told the wire service that the changes would occur across multiple areas of the business and indicated that the cuts would not affect the newsroom."The Washington Post is continuing its transformation to meet the needs of the industry, build a more sustainable future and reach audiences where they are," the spokesperson said, according to Reuters. Microsoft is planning an unspecified number of cutsMicrosoft confirmed to BI that job cuts were planned. NurPhoto/Getty Images Microsoft is planning job cuts soon, and the company is taking a harder look at underperforming employees as part of the reductions, according to two people familiar with the plans.A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed cuts but declined to share details on the number of employees being let go."At Microsoft we focus on high performance talent," the spokesperson said. "We are always working on helping people learn and grow. When people are not performing, we take the appropriate action." Ally will cut less than 5% of workers Ally Bank/Facebook Digital financial company Ally is laying off roughly 500 of its 11,000 employees, a spokesperson confirmed to BI. The impacted employees were notified on Tuesday."As we continue to right-size our company, we made the difficult decision to selectively reduce our workforce in some areas, while continuing to hire in our other areas of our business," the spokesperson said.The spokesperson also said the company is offering severance, out-placement support, and the opportunity to apply for openings at Ally.Ally made a similar level of cuts in October 2023, the Charlotte Observer reported.Is your company conducting layoffs? Got a tip?The author, not pictured, only texts her best friend. Tim Robberts/Getty Images If you are an employee with a tip about upcoming job cuts, please contact Dominick via email or text/call/Signal at 646.768.4750. Responses will be kept confidential, and Business Insider strongly recommends using a personal email and a non-work device when reaching out Close iconTwo crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.

Sustained powerful winds reaching nearly 100 miles per hour are driving fast-moving wildfires near Los Angeles, spewing smoke, destroying homes, closing roads, and forcing thousands of people to evacuate. The Palisades fire along the coast near the Santa Monica mountains has burned more than 5,000 acres as of Wednesday afternoon. The Eaton fire near Pasadena has now torched at least 2,200 acres. The blazes have killed at least two people and destroyed more than 1,000 structures. Other smaller fires are also burning in the region. These blazes are stunning in their scale and speed, jumping from ignition to thousands of acres in a day, but theyre hardly unexpected. Fire forecasters have been warning since the beginning of the year that conditions were ripe for massive infernos, particularly in Southern California. For January, above normal significant fire potential is forecast across portions of Southern California, according to a National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) bulletin on January 2. This was an exceptionally well-predicted event from a meteorological and fire-predictive services perspective, Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California Los Angeles, said Wednesday during a livestream. The winter months are typically when Southern California quenches its thirst with rainfall, but the past few weeks have been unusually dry, and little snowfall has accumulated in the surrounding mountains. The NIFC also noted that temperatures were an impressive two to six degrees [Fahrenheit] above normal in most areas in December, allowing vegetation like grasses and chaparral to readily dry out and serve as fuel. On top of this, the Santa Ana winds, Southern Californias seasonal gusts, were unusually strong. They typically blow from the northeast toward the coast in the wintertime, but this year, an unusually warm ocean and a meandering jet stream are giving these gales an additional speed boost, like pointing a hair dryer at Los Angeles. Firefighters are working desperately to corral the flames and keep them away from peoples homes, but theres little they can do to halt the combination of ample fuel, dry weather, and high winds, which are poised to continue. It will take another force of nature to quell this one. Until widespread rains occur, this risk will continue, according to the NIFC bulletin. The three factors driving the severe breakout of fires in California @vox Why the Los Angeles fires are so bad, explained by Vox's Umair Irfan. #wildfirescalifornia #wildfire #wildfires #losangeles #california #climate original sound - Vox - Vox Wildfires are a natural part of the landscape in California, but the danger they pose to the region is growing because more people are living in fire-prone areas. That increases the likelihood of igniting a blaze and the scale of the damage that occurs when a fire inevitably erupts. Californias growing wildfire threat has rocked the states insurance industry and forced regulators to allow insurers to price in the risk of worsening future catastrophes. At the same time, global average temperatures are rising due to climate change, which can prime more of the landscape to burn. It will take a concerted effort on many fronts to mitigate the wildfire threat, including using more fire-resistant building materials, performing controlled burns to reduce fuels, changing where people live, improving forecasting, pricing insurance in line with the actual disaster risk, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change. But in the meantime, the dangers from fires in Southern California are likely to get worse.A fast-moving brushfire in a Los Angeles suburb burned buildings and sparked evacuations Tuesday as life-threatening winds whipped the region. More than 200 acres was burning in Pacific Palisades, a upscale spot with multimillion-dollar homes in the Santa Monica Mountains, shuttering a key highway and blanketing the area with thick smoke. David Swanson/AFP via Getty ImagesWhat are the Santa Ana winds? Why are they so powerful this year?Parts of California regularly experience persistent high winds during certain times of year. The northern part of the state, including the San Francisco Bay Area, tends to see high winds in the spring and fall known as the Diablo winds. Southern Californias Santa Ana winds often arise in the winter months. This is not a typical Santa Ana, but this is the time of year when you expect it, Swain said. The mechanisms behind the Santa Ana and Diablo winds are similar: Cool air from inland mountains rolls downhill toward the coasts. That air compresses as it moves to lower altitudes and squeezes between canyons, heating up and drying out, similar to a bicycle pump. But there are several factors that may be worsening these gusts right now.One is that the band of the Pacific Ocean near Southern California remains unusually warm following two years of record-high temperatures all over the world that triggered underwater heat waves. High temperatures in the ocean can bend the jet stream. This is a narrow band of fast-moving air at a high altitude that snakes across the planet and shapes the weather below. As it meanders, it can hold warm air under high pressure in place, allowing heat to accumulate closer to the surface. When high pressure settles over inland areas like the Great Basin northeast of Los Angeles, it starts driving air over the mountains and toward the coast. Again, wildfires are a natural and vital mechanism in the ecosystem in Southern California. They help clear decaying vegetation and restore nutrients to the soil. But people are making the destruction from wildfires far worse. The majority of wildfires in the US are ignited by humans careless campfires, sparks from machinery, downed power lines but there are also natural fire starters like dry lightning storms and on rare occasions, spontaneous combustion of decaying vegetation and soil. The ignition sources of the current fires around Los Angeles arent known yet. The population in the region is also expanding, although the growth rate has recently slowed down. More people in the area means more property, and in Southern California, that property can be quite expensive. As the fires move toward populated areas, they can do a lot of damage. I do expect it is plausible that the Palisades fire in particular will become the costliest on record, Swain said. The weather this year has also left abundant vegetation in the region that has desiccated in the warm, dry air. And of course, humans are heating up the planet by burning fossil fuels and that is enhancing some of the raw ingredients for dangerous fires. Ample fuel plus high wind in unusually dry weather near a major population center have converged to create an extraordinary and dangerous spate of wildfires. Whats the role of climate change?Many factors have to converge to start a massive wildfire, and the variables arent all straightforward. In recent years, California has been ping-ponging between extremely dry and wet years. Thats had a strong impact on the vegetation in Southern California. Unlike the forests in the northern part of the state that grow over the course of decades, the amount of grass and brush around Los Angeles can shift widely year to year depending on precipitation. There is a very high degree of background variability, Swain said. The key thing to pay attention to is the sequence of extreme weather. Last winter, the Los Angeles area was soaked in torrential downpours that set new rainfall records. The deluge helped irrigate a bumper crop of grasses and shrubs in the area. The region then experienced some of its all-time hottest temperatures followed by one the driest starts to winter ever measured. These swings between extreme rainfall and drought have been dubbed weather whiplash, and climate scientists expect these shifts to become more common along the West Coast, and that could increase the threat of major blazes. Its not just that drier conditions are perpetually more likely in a warming climate, its that this oscillation back and forth between states is something that is particularly consequential for wildfire risk in Southern California, Swain said.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. 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For western audiences,1990sGundam can largely be defined by one series:Gundam Wing, the sixth major entry in the franchise, and the one that would set the stage for the mecha series rise in the west through its landmark broadcast run on Cartoon Network in 2000. But just a year after Wing aired in Japan,Gundam returned with a whole new seriesone that often flies under the radar as one of the series most intriguing additions. After War Gundam X first broadcast in Japan in 1996, and is now, outside of Blu-ray releases a few years ago, finally making its international streaming debut for free on Tubi this month. Set in what was at the time Gundams third alternate timelinei.e, not being part of the Universal Century continuity that the first four Gundam series were all part ofafter Wingand its predecessorG Gundam,Gundam X picks up a decade and a half after a deadly interstellar war has ravaged the Earth and its space colonies. Following a young scavenger named Garrod Ran, one of many survivors eking a living by scavenging and repairing remnant mobile suits from the wars aftermath, Garrod discovers the titular Gundam X and crosses paths with the crew of the battleship Freeden and wrapped up in their aims to safeguard a handful of Newtypes, evolved humans who have developed enhanced perception from living in space, from being exploited by various emergent factions looking to thrust the Earth Sphere into interstellar conflict once more. WhileGundams prior alternate universes in Wing andG Gundam only carried loose parallels to the framework of the worldbuilding of the Universal Centurymostly in the form of conflict between Earth and space colonies, and, of course, giant mechaGundam X was the first of the alternate universes to really explicitly grapple with one ofGundams most fascinating concepts in the form of Newtypes, both in taking the literal name (other AUGundam shows have explored the concept through different lenses and names, of course) for these enhanced individuals and also in examining their place in the world beyond their exploitation as assets of war. Although at the timeGundam X had mixed receptionit ran for just 39 episodes, truncated from a planned 49, and was ultimately overshadowed in the west entirely by the success of Gundam Wing, never receiving an English-language dubin years since its been re-examined and appreciated for its place in the wider oeuvre ofGundams alternate timelines.Of the trifecta of 90s Gundam AUs (putting aside Xs direct successor, 1999s anniversary seriesTurn A Gundam, a series that, while in its own continuity, largely plays with ideas connecting itself to the original timelineand the widerGundam franchise), its the one thats arguably the most in conversation with the originalMobile Suit Gundam and its own direct successors in Zeta andDouble Zeta.Its well worth checking out, especially as Tubis freeand hopefully a sign that, even if a lot of Gundams big hitters are all currently landing on other streaming homes, we could see a few more entries from the franchise get a spotlight on Tubi too (the aforementioned Turn A, a franchise highlight, is in desperate need of a streaming home!).You can check outAfter War Gundam X on Tubi here. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

By Thomas Maxwell Published January 8, 2025 | Comments (0) | Airbnb is offering temporary housing to Los Angeles residents displayed by wildfires. Kyle Grillot/AFP via Getty Airbnb says it is offering free temporary housing to residents of the Los Angeles area affected by the wildfires currently raging through Southern California. The company has partnered with 211 LA, a non-profit telephone line that offers local information services in multiple languages. Right now, Airbnb says it is focused on helping residents from the Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa Monica and Sylmar areas. The company may expand to support other areas, and encourages locals to keep an eye on its blog for updates. Airbnb will work with 211 LA to identify residents in need of temporary housing and connect them to accommodations offered through Airbnb.org, the companys non-profit arm which provides free stays through funds from the company and hosts who offer up their homes during disaster situations. The company says more than 1.6 million nights of emergency stays have been provided to approximately 250,000 people. The home-sharing platform received some criticism on Twitter/X after a user posted that Airbnb had refused to rebook her into new accommodations further away from the wildfire. The company told Gizmodo that the woman had made her booking on the afternoon of January 7, after the wildfire had already begun, which is why it had initially refused to issue a refund. Airbnb has since remedied the situation as a goodwill gesture.Other guests who had ongoing reservations in impacted areas of Southern California are eligible to end their trips early under Airbnbs Major Disruptive Events Policy and will receive a fund for the remaining nights on their stay. If their stay had not yet begun, users can cancel for a full refund. Hosts can cancel stays in affected areas without consequence. So far, at least two fatalities have been reported and at least 1,000 structures have been destroyed as three major fires continue to blaze across the Los Angeles area. Videos on social media depict a devastating scene of affluent areas including Pacific Palisades in ruins. This is insane. The Pacific Palisades looks like a war zone. Thousands of acres destroyed in a day. Hoping the fire can be contained soon pic.twitter.com/1PnZOqnxCk litquidity (@litcapital) January 8, 2025 Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Matt Novak Published January 8, 2025 By Isaac Schultz Published January 8, 2025 Lylla Younes, Grist Published December 14, 2024 By Thomas Maxwell Published December 13, 2024 By Margherita Bassi Published November 29, 2024 By Matthew Gault Published October 30, 2024