Submitted by WA ContentsWhite Fortress by TAEP/AAP is a linear house that features a tall cylindrical lighthouse on a beach Kuwait Architecture News - Jan 08, 2025 - 13:24 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Kuwait-based architecture practice TAEP/AAP has designed a linear residence that features a tall cylindrical lighthouse on a private beach in Al Khiran, Kuwait.The house extends horizontally towards the coast, balancing the solid-void relationship and expanding the richness of the facade from different angles.Named White Fortress, the 1,045-square-metre house was conceived as an attribution to the Northern Gulf architecture on "privacy and discretion."In response to the climatic conditions of its environment, the house utilizes passive cooling and heating while maintaining its iconic appearance, characterized by a modest design with textured and creamy-toned concrete.The house is surrounded by tall, thick walls that provide shelter from the severe weather and arid surroundings while enclosing a calm and welcoming interior.Within a rectangular walled enclave, the ground floor housing scheme is arranged around patios. The main communal room and patios feature carefully incorporated glazed facades that blend in with the original design of the house.Each patio or courtyard is assigned a distinct role, such as greeting, resting, or celebrating, to provide a variety of experiences.The private and social sections are separated from the service components by a central green "oasis". The inside is filled with well-proportioned rooms that open into small green gardens and a variety of oval-shaped patios.The non-linear pathways that connect all the components of the house bring them all together.From the main entrance to the private family areas, an axial circulation corridor winds through a series of gardens and patios, creating a rhythmic play of shadow and depth.At the waterfront, the house faces the Gulf Sea, interacting with the sand dunes and flora through an open, partially covered paved area that frames the horizontality of the seascape.The house's primary convivial communal room and the inner space are effortlessly connected by its extension to the private beach.Within the center of the "oasis," the attention is drawn to a towering, cylindrical volume. It is a place for meditation and seclusion that rises like a beacon on the seashore.It offers a serene setting for peace and reflection. The roof, which becomes a reflective walking area, is accessible from the tower. The tower and roof provide expansive views of the dunes, the house gardens, and the sea's boundless horizon.Location planFloor plansSectionsTAEP/AAP previously created a giant, grand canopy that covers a small volume, and functions as a restaurant and logistical areas in Sharq, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Additionally, the firm completed a family house covered by a folded roof to create a sense of tent-like structure on a seaside in Kuwait.Project factsProject name:White FortressArchitects:TAEP/AAPProject Location:Al Khiran, KuwaitCompletion Year:2023Built-up Area:1,045m2Team:Abdulatif Almishari, Rui Vargas, Carla Barroso, Alba Duarte, Telmo Rodrigues, Carlo Palma, Duarte Correia, Elvino Domingos, Emanuel Grave, Hassan Javed, Joo Costa, Lionel Estriga, Pedro MirandaMEP: Mohammed Hassan, Rben RodriguesInterior Design: Leonor Barata Feyo, Carolina GraveLandscape: Susana PinheiroGraphic Design: Mariana Neves, Aquilino Sotero, Diogo Monteiro, Federica Fortugno, Nelson Ferreira, Lus Esteves.Consultants:Structure:R5 EngineersSite Supervision:AsBuilt - Lcio Silva, Ricardo Janeiro, Vando BeldadeAll images Fernando Guerra | FG+SG Architectural Photography.All drawings TAEP/AAP.> via TAEP/AAP

Submitted by Berrin Chatzi ChouseinGCCA introduces international definitions for low-carbon cement and concrete at COP29 Azerbaijan Architecture News - Jan 08, 2025 - 10:20 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"The international definitions for low-carbon cement and concrete were introduced at the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.Launched at the UN Climate Change Conference held from 11 to 22 November 2024, the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has introduced its international definitions for low-carbon cement and concrete, aiming to help governments and businesses "identify and buy green cement and concrete" across the world.The new international definitions will bring "transparency and trust"According to Robert Habeck, German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, the new international definitions will bring "transparency and trust" in the markets that want access to green concrete and cement.Considering that the built environment is responsible for 40 percent of carbon emissions, the use of concrete has an important place. Known as an indispensable material and a symbol of modern architecture, concrete is the most used material on earth after water, according to GCCA's Cement Industry Net Zero Progress Report 2024/25.Due to being the main component of the clinker in cement, the clinker is extremely carbon intensive, accounting for 90% of the total emissions from cement. Made of cement, water, sand, and aggregate, concrete is one of the most harmful materials on the earth.In a new 9-page report, the GCCA created numerical definitions for low-carbon and near-zero emissions concrete, which was published in October 2024.For procurement motives, the report provides numerical definitions for "low carbon" and "near zero" carbon emissions concrete products in units of embedded carbon dioxide equivalent per cubic meter of product (ECO2e /m3), also known as Global Warming Potential (GWP)."A big step forward towards delivering a greener built environment and a greener global economy""This is a big step forward towards delivering a greener built environment and a greener global economy. Lead markets for low carbon basic materials are an important component of the policy landscape to support decarbonization of sectors such as cement and concrete," said Robert Habeck, German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action."During the German G7 Presidency the Energy and Climate Ministers agreed on the IEA definitions being a robust starting point for the work internationally.""We are delighted that this work has been built upon by the GCCA to publish low carbon and near zero definitions for concrete products," Habeck explained."As co-chair of the International Climate Club initiative with Chile, we continue to facilitate multilateral collaboration and alignment on industrial decarbonization," Habeck added.With the help of governments and organizations like the IEA, Climate Club, and the Clean Energy Ministerial Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative, which was made possible by UNIDO, the industry has developed and improved definitions of green concrete that are both universal and adaptable to local practices while maintaining international consistency and comparability.The definitions make use of the well-established environmental product declaration (EPD) accounting technique for products, especially cement and concrete, in the construction value chain.Thomas Guillot, Chief Executive of the GCCA, whose members represent 80% of cement production capacity outside of China, as well as a number of leading Chinese manufacturers, said: "Concrete and its key binding ingredient cement are the most used materials on the planet after water and essential to the modern world for delivering vital infrastructure, housing, cities, and resilient communities.""Building on our net zero commitment is an important advancement on our journey towards net zero.""We now call on policymakers, governments, and the private sector to procure green cement and concrete and provide the key signals to our sector to accelerate decarbonization," Guillot added.Global Definitions for Low Carbon and Near Zero Emissions Concrete. Image courtesy of the GCCA7 bands from A to G include the near-zero emissions and global reference thresholdsThe GCCA created 7 bands from A to G, including the near-zero emissions and global reference thresholds. While the bands from A to E letter showcase the Global Reference Threshold, the AA band represents a near zero emission product threshold. At the top of the bands, are F and G, covering all concrete products not included in Bands A to F."The band values in GWP units of (ECO2e /m3) are plotted against concrete compressive strength. Concrete product is defined as ready mixed concrete and precast (factory made) concrete1 and concrete masonry elements," stated the report.In order to develop a set of universally applicable criteria for concrete, GCCA has decided to collaborate with the Clean Energy Ministerial Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative (IDDI).The IDDI is an international association of both public and commercial entities. Consistent definitions for low carbon and near-zero steel, concrete, and cement are among IDDI's main goals. The IDDI uses the International Energy Agency's (IEA) criteria for low-carbon and near-zero crude steel and cement as a solid foundation and is helping to develop, improve, and expand them as necessary.According to the GCCA, a system that allows all countries to report progress and allows for cross-country comparisons using uniform banding levels can be applied to procurement in all countries."GCCA used the 2022 work by IEA for G7 on cement production as a robust starting point and have been developed with public and private procurement in mind," said the GCCA."The definitions are designed to be used with local benchmarks and targets to reflect different challenges, opportunities and rate of decarbonisation.""Low carbon procurement of projects and products is a key driver for decarbonisation of the built environment," the association explained.Countries included in Global Reference Threshold calculation. Image courtesy of the GCCAA new Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC) is establishedAnnounced at the COP29 climate conference, the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction also announced the establishment of the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC).The ICBC aims to implement new goals towards decarbonization in the construction industry. The ICBC is part of a significant step toward implementing the Chaillot Declaration, the ministerial declaration was launched in March 2024."Responsible for 37 percent of global energy-related CO2 emissions and 34 percent of final energy demand in 2022, the buildings sector plays a vital economic role but is also a significant source of environmental impact," stated a press release.The top image in the article: The Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation by Studio Gang. Fourth-Floor Bridge Links and Connections. Image Iwan Baan.

Source: ShutterstockCladding being fitted to a high rise buildingConstruction clients have so far demonstrated a total lack of engagement with the new building safety regime, according to research by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA).The trade body has used its regional meetings with members as focus groups over a six month period to gauge the take-up of measures introduced under the Building Safety Act, which has been in force since 2022.BESA members have apparently reported that not a single client had discussed compliance with them, instead saying that the pressure to deliver projects faster and more cheaply was increasing.BESAs director of specialist knowledge Rachel Davidson, said: As there is currently very little enforcement of the legislation and, therefore, no apparent consequences, clients are still subjecting contractors to aggressive and sub-economic pricing.She said that members were reporting that tenders were still being won on lowest price and still being value engineered throughout the project on non-higher risk building works.> Also read:We will deliver a generational shift Why the Grenfell Inquiry report means another building safety shake-upSeveral contractors who insisted on applying more rigorous safety measures said they had been priced out of projects as a result, said Davidson.There is also a serious geographical divide with clear evidence that the further north you go the less awareness of and engagement with the legislation you find, particularly among clients.Last year,the Industry Safety Steering Group came to a similar conclusion, saying it was disappointed at developers failing to change their practices.Davidson called for a government driven public awareness campaign to improve client engagement after BESAs research revealed that most clients wrongly believed that the legislation was aimed exclusively at the construction industry and did not apply to those owning, managing and operating the buildings.Too many clients still think the act does not apply to them, so they need to be the target of a major awareness programme, she said.It cannot be left to individual contractors to try and educate their clients, particularly while cost remains king.Also, if the government is really serious about improving standards of safety and performance alongside its ambitious plans for construction growth, it must properly resource the regulator and ensure that this potentially game changing legislation is fully enforced.> Also read:Building safety group deeply concerned by developers still building to old standardsDuring the sessions, BESA members expressed concern about the number of projects delayed due to additional planning constraints and shortages in building control departments.They also cited the need to pay for additional third-party testing to ensure building components meet the specification when operating as a system as a potential source of higher costs and project delays.

Building at St Marys Hospital to provide space for research into antimicrobial resistanceThe Fleming Centre will contain laboratories for research into antimicrobial resistanceStanton Williams has triumphed over a group of big name practices to win a job to design a medical research building at St Marys Hospitalin Paddington.The firm beat AHMM, Allies & Morrison, Grimshaw and a collaboration between Wilkinson Eyre with White Arkitekter in the RIBA competition for the Fleming Centre, named after microbiologist Alexander Fleming.The seven-storey scheme is part of the wider Fleming Initiative, established jointly by Imperial College Healthcare and Imperial College London to find solutions to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at a global scale.It will provide space for researchers, policymakers, clinicians, behavioral experts, commercial partners and the public as one hub in a global network of centres in strategic locations around the world working as part of the initiative.Stanton Williams selection was partly informed by feedback from more than 300 visitors who attended a three-day design exhibition held in November which showcased the proposals from the five shortlisted teams.The next phase of the project will involve detailed design development, public consultations and the submission of a planning application to Westminster council.The winning practice said its designs for the building aimed to reflect a series of mid 19th century warehouses on the formerly industrial site which were converted into hospital buildings in the 1980s.The proposals include a water source heat pump, photovoltaic panels, biodiverse landscaping and a low-carbon structure. The ground floor is intended as an open and welcoming extension of the public realm, offering views into laboratories and curated exhibition spaces.Ara Darzi, executive chair of the Fleming Initiative, described the submission as a bold vision which reflects the centres unique purpose and global significance.By providing a flexible space to unite researchers, policymakers, clinicians, behavioral experts, commercial partners and the public in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, we can ensure that the Fleming Centre becomes a global beacon for change in healthcare, he said.Tim Orchard, chief executive of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, added: The Stanton Williams design concept gave the selection panel great confidence that the building they design will honour both Sir Alexander Flemings legacy and our aspiration for continued innovation with local and global impact.The building, which is envisaged as a key part of the Paddington life sciences cluster, will be integrated into a planned future redevelopment of the wider St Marys Hospital campus, a project which is part of the governments New Hospital Programme pipeline.It is scheduled to open in 2028 to mark the 100th anniversary of Flemings discovery of penicillin at the hospital.

Our Experts Written by McKenzie Dillon Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement What to consider Firmness A firm mattress will offer more support and a soft mattress will relieve more pressure. Medium mattresses fall in the sweet spot between the two. The right firmness level for you depends on your sleeping position. Sleeping position Side sleepers should consider a medium to soft mattress that cradles the hips and shoulders. Back and stomach sleepers should consider a medium to firm mattress that keeps the spine aligned. Do you switch between positions? Medium firmness is ideal. Feel The feel of your mattress will depend on the types of materials it has inside. Coils and latex foam give a bed more bounce, while memory foam and poly foam make a bed feel more cushy and relieve pressure. Construction There are essentially two mattress types: hybrid and all-foam. Hybrid mattresses are constructed with steel coils and foam, but all-foam mattresses contain only foam. Body type Hybrid mattresses tend to be best for people who want extra support and durability. Sleepers over 230 pounds should consider a hybrid over an all-foam mattress because its more supportive, durable and long-lasting. Performance Motion isolation, edge support and temperature are other important features to consider. Hot sleepers should consider a mattress made with special cooling features. Couples will want minimal motion transfer and a strong, supportive perimeter. Company policies All online brands offer a free trial, free shipping and a warranty, but some are more generous than others. Why You Can Trust CNET 210220230240250260270280290300 Mattress Tests123456789 Testers5706707708709701,0701,1701,2701,3701,470 Hours Tested How we test With five-plus years of mattress-testing experience, we use our different sleeping positions and body types to offer well-rounded, honest reviews.Table of Contents Back to selection

Our Experts Written by Chris Wedel Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Why You Can Trust CNET 16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space How we test CNETs expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. What to consider Smart home ecosystem Buy the smart display that uses the same voice assistant you are already using to ensure seamless integration. Personal use Smart displays come in many different sizes, so be sure to get the one that best matches your primary use. Where you plan to put it Some smart displays can be wall mounted to free up counter or table space, others can't so the larger models will take up more room on table. Table of Contents Our Picks Best smart display overall Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) View details $100 at Best Buy View details The other best smart display Amazon Echo Show 8 (2023) View details $150 at Amazon View details Best sounding smart display display Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd gen) View details $250 at Amazon View details Best large smart display Amazon Echo Show 15 View details $300 at Amazon View details Best smart home control display Amazon Echo Hub View details $180 at Amazon View details Table of Contents What's the best smart home display for 2025?There is no shortage of smart devices to add to your home, from smart speakers to smart security cameras and even smart kitchen appliances. Whether you've been collecting them all or are just beginning your smart home journey, using a smart display to easily control all of these devices can elevate your smart home experience. From acting as an alarm clock to watching videos to controlling your smart device collection, we tested and reviewed the best smart displays for your home. And if you know someone with an affinity for smart devices, smart displays make a great smart home gift.There are plenty of smart displays to choose from. For now, big players like Google and Amazon dominate the smart display market, with each having released numerous generations of devices. Most recently, we've seen the Amazon Echo Show 8 and the Amazon Echo Hub, the latter of which adds simplicity to controlling your smart home. Google on the other hand has the Google Nest Hub (formerly the Google Home Hub) as well as the Nest Hub Max, which adds face- and gesture-tracking capabilities along with a larger screen -- you can also check out the Google Pixel Tab, which can double as a smart home display and Android tablet. Watch this: Google Nest Hub (2nd gen): Sleep sensing from a smart display 05:04 Nevertheless, whether you're looking to add a smart display to your existing setup or you're just starting your smart home and you find the touchscreen appealing, here are the best models available now. We'll update this list periodically. Best smart home displays

If you're aiming to get out running more often this year, then you'll want some high-qualityrunning earbuds to help you stay motivated. Well, we've got good news, because we've found a great deal on the Shokz OpenRun Pro bone-conduction headphones, some of our favorite bone-conduction headphones around, which knocks $40 off the usual price.See at Best BuyBone-conduction headphones are fascinating because they allow you to hear your music incredibly clearly even without anything in or over your ears. Instead, the sound waves hit your temples and transfer to your ear drum. They're more comfortable, and they can help you stay more aware of your surroundings, too. This story is part of Amazon Prime Day, CNET's guide to everything you need to know and how to find the best deals. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.Shokz pioneered the open-ear headphone design and makes some of the best bone-conduction headphones around. CNET voted the OpenRun Pro the best overall bone-conduction headphone of 2024, and they've not been knocked off that perch yet in 2025. With incredible sound quality, up to 10 hours of battery life and a quick re-charge rate (five minutes of charging gets you up to 90 minutes of battery life), there's a lot to like about these headphones. They're also light and comfortable, so they can basically do it all.Read more: Is Your New Years Resolution to Exercise More? Try Running With iOS 18However, if this pair doesn't quite meet your needs, you can check out our roundup of other headphones deals happening now, for more options that can save you some cash. Top deals available today, according to CNET's shopping experts Curated discounts worth shopping while they last Apple AirTag, 4-pack: $70 (save $29)Costco 1-year Gold Star membership + $20 gift card: $65 (save $20)Anker 20-watt USB-C charger, 2-pack: $12 (save $7)Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum: $160 (save $40)Peloton Bike: $1,145 (save $300) Why this deal mattersWe like these headphones a lot, and while a little quirky for some, they offer an interesting way to listen to music that's really comfortable for a lot of people. They're also great for workouts and outdoor runs or dog walks, and while we like them at full price, we like them even more with $40 off. The deal only applies to the Best Buy-exclusive steel blue color, with others remaining at $160. It's also worth noting that Shokz just launched a new set of true wireless earbuds at CES if you don't like the bone-conduction tech so much.

January 8, 20253 min readHow Periods Can Affect ADHD Symptoms and TreatmentAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms worsen right before and during a period, a new study finds, and this could impact treatmentBy Kelso Harper edited by Tanya LewisResearchers once thought of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as an unchanging condition: either you have it or you dont, end of story. But its become clear that ADHD symptoms can change across a persons lifespan, and new research shows that symptoms can even change over the span of a menstrual cycle.The new findings, which were presented at the U.S. Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress in October, but have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, provide the strongest evidence yet that ADHD symptoms can fluctuate along with hormonal shifts.It gives us a personalized insight into what is happening for many women with ADHD, says Dora Wynchank, a psychiatrist and ADHD researcher at the Dutch mental health organization PsyQ, who was not involved in the study. Because ADHD historically has been studied in boys and men, weve missed out on this very important aspect.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Michelle Martel, a clinical psychologist and chair of the psychology department at the University of Kentucky, led the new research, which followed 97 female college students across their menstrual cycle. Nearly all participants had a formal ADHD diagnosis, and roughly half took psychostimulants for treatment. Every day, Martels team measured participants hormone levels and assessed their ADHD symptoms with questionnaires and cognitive tests.Martel and her colleagues found that participants reported worse ADHD symptoms, such as inattention and impulsivity, just before and at the start of their period and, to a lesser extent, around ovulation. This aligned with the results of cognitive tasks, and it also echoes what many psychologists, including Martel and Wynchank, have already heard from their patients.Something happens to me in the week before my period where all hell breaks loose, Wynchank says she has heard from clients. A couple days into my period, I look back and I dont recognize myself. And this comes back every month.Martel says these changes appear to be largely caused by drops in estradiol, the most powerful form of estrogen. Estrogen is most famously a sex hormone, but it's also active in the brain, aiding in attention, memory and mood stabilization. Plus, it helps your body produce and maintain levels of dopamine, an important brain-signaling chemical that plays a central role in ADHD.Its about a sensitivity to hormonal fluctuations, Wynchank hypothesizes. That combination of poorly operating dopamine and low levels of estrogen is just a sort of double whammy that makes the cognitive symptoms so much worse. This might explain why studies show higher rates of premenstrual dysphoric disordera severe form of premenstrual syndromein people with ADHD, as well as a higher likelihood of postpartum depression and worsened perimenopause symptoms. Estrogen levels are known to drop before menstruation, after giving birth and around menopause.Martels newest results show the same effect as a preliminary study of 32 participants that she published in 2018. Its really just verifying everything we found before, Martel says, It really does allow us to trust these results are accurate, that were picking up on something real.The findings could impact the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. In Martels preliminary study, some participants only met the criteria for ADHD at certain points in their menstrual cycle, which could affect their ability to be diagnosed. And Martel wants to explore whether some people would benefit from cyclical adjustment to their ADHD medication.Wynchank and her collaborators published a case study in 2023 that supports this idea of a cycle-specific prescription. The researchers prescribed an increased premenstrual dose of ADHD medication to nine of their patients and followed them for six months to two years. All participants reported improved symptoms without increased side effects and planned to continue the titrated dose. But Wynchank notes that there are other things, such as psychotherapy and hormonal birth control, that could help with worsened premenstrual ADHD symptoms that havent yet been studied in depth.Theres a lot of work to do in this area, both Wynchank and Martel agree. ADHD is definitely dramatically understudied in girls and women, Martel says.To combat this disparity, Wynchank and her collaborators are conducting a worldwide survey of women with ADHD until March 1, 2025. We want to know what the lived experience is for women with ADHD and what their research priorities are, Wynchank says. Its not about what were interested in researching. We want that to come from the women themselves.

OpinionJanuary 8, 20255 min readAmerican Global Health Leadership in a Second Trump AdministrationThe Trump administration may undermine U.S. leadership and the international system of global health cooperation. Pandemic preparedness, resilient health systems and reproductive rights will suffer worldwideBy Lawrence O. Gostin & Eric A. Friedman edited by Dan VerganoFormer presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President-elect Donald Trump shook hands during a campaign rally on August 23, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. Rebecca Noble/Getty ImagesSince the end of World War II the U.S. has been the unrivaled global health leader through both Republican and Democratic administrations. U.S. public health agencies have set the scientific gold standard for biomedical research, medical product approvals and public health. They fund international research, support resilient health systems and work side by side with scientific agencies on pandemic preparedness.All this, and far more, is at considerable risk in a second Trump administration, with vast implications for health worldwide, particularly for the most vulnerable.Lets start with funding, where President-elect Donald Trump promises to slash global health assistance. Elon Musk, incoming co-head of the advisory Department of Government Efficiency, has already expressed support for eliminating all foreign aid. And Project 2025, widely seen as the right-wing blueprint for a second Trump administration, subjects humanitarian assistance to withering criticism, calling for deep cuts. In 2020 Trumps final budget proposed cutting global health programs by 34 percent, including for maternal and child health, nutrition, family planning and infectious diseases. While bipartisan support for global health prevented deep financial cuts then, Congress today is far more aligned with Trumps America First agenda, including its hostility to foreign aid.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Thats bad news because the U.S. is the worlds largest funder of global health, providing four times more bilateral international health assistance than Germany, the government providing the next most. . In 2022 the U.S. provided more than $12 billion in funding to global health initiatives to support low-and middle-income countries through its huge network of bilateral and multilateral funding, as well as on-the-ground technical assistance and training.As a result, the U.S. is a leading funder of core global health initiatives, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malariasince the organizations launch, the U.S. has provided 36 percent of its total fundingand Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which increases equitable access to lifesaving vaccines (about 24 percent of contributions from 2021 to 2025).The National Institutes of Health has a $48-billion budget, which it invests in biomedical and behavioral health research that benefits the world. The agencys remarkable record of success includes developing lifesaving antiretroviral therapies for HIV/AIDS and mRNA technologies such as COVID vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took a leading role in the eradication of smallpox and the ongoing global polio eradication campaign. The NIHs Fogarty International Center has trained almost 8,500 scientists from low- and middle-income countries since 1989.President George W. Bush signing of HR 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008.WENN Rights Ltd/Alamy Stock PhotoStarted in 2003 under then president George W. Bush, the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is due for reauthorization in March 2025. PEPFAR has invested $120 billion in the global HIV/AIDS response. Thats by far the largest commitment made by any nation to address a single disease in history, saving more than 25 million lives. Congress may cut PEPFAR funding or make funding contingent on refraining from crucial work supporting sexual and reproductive health and fighting discrimination, all key to stopping HIV/AIDS.At the height of the COVID pandemic, Trump made what one of us (Gostin) called a cataclysmic decision: delivering a letter to the United Nations secretary-general indicating an intention to withdraw from the World Health Organization. While President Joe Biden reversed the decision, Trump now has four years to withdraw, as recommended by Project 2025.Yet Trump has another choice: make a deal. He should keep the U.S. a member, contingent on the WHO undertaking vital governance reforms such as increased transparency and accountability.He will almost certainly drastically cut U.S. financial support for the WHO to a level equal to, or below, Chinas contributions. If Trump chooses to withdraw or slash funding, the effects could be devastating. The U.S. is the WHOs largest member-state funder, representing 22 percent of all WHO-assessed dues. Without U.S. funding, or with greater restrictions on federal dollars to WHO, as Project 2025 outlines, the organizations programming would be hollowed out, and its pandemic responses capacities would be diminished, endangering health everywhere. And given financial and political pressures in Europe, governments there may not compensate for the loss of U.S. contributions.If countries believe, as we do, that WHO is indispensable, they must stand up and fight for the agency. We cannot imagine a world without an empowered WHO, with its constitutional mandate on the right to health for all.The WHO was born in 1948 with powers to negotiate health treaties, such as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. On June 1, 2024, the World Health Assembly adopted a major revision to its International Health Regulations (IHR), which ensure early detection and reporting of disease outbreaks and scientific exchange. Not only did the U.S. drive IHR negotiations, but the nations Health and Human Services secretary Xavier Becerra threatened to walk if its final amendments were not adoptedand they were. That shows the determination and influence of the U.S when it actively engages.Those 2024 amendments wont take effect until September 19, 2025. Because of his distrust of international agreements, President-elect Trump could issue major reservations to the IHR or withdraw entirely. Either way, U.S. national security is at stake because the IHR fortify pandemic preparedness and response. The U.S. must remain a party for the good of the nation and the world.The 2024 World Health Assembly granted the Intergovernmental Negotiation Body (INB) one further year to negotiate a new Pandemic Agreement. With Geneva negotiations at a stalemate, the question becomes whether Trump will block any U.S. participation, given that he had previously asserted that the Pandemic Agreement would benefit other countries at the expense of the U.S. Many Trump allies have stoked disinformation that the Pandemic Agreement would cede U.S. sovereignty, a claim that has been widely debunked.Inevitably, a second Trump term will threaten reproductive rights globally. He is almost certain to again cut funding to the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), the U.N. agency that works to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health services. This time the agency stands to lose more than $160 million, more than double the amount cut during Trumps first term.Further, Trump is likely to reinstate or expand the global gag rule, which withholds health assistance to organizations that provide any abortion-related services, even if they use non-U.S. funds. In his first term, with devastating effect, Trump expanded the domestic gag rule to include all U.S. global health assistance, not only family planning assistance, as the rule was applied during previous Republican administrations. A second Trump administration might not only quickly reinstate the global gag rule but further broaden it to cover all U.S. foreign assistance.President Donald Trump speaks with reporters during a visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on March 6, 2020.PBH Images/Alamy Stock PhotoFinally, the CDC is bracing for cuts, given the politics surrounding its role during the pandemic. For more than three quarters of a century, that agency has worked to protect and improve health security. With a network of offices in more than 65 countries, it has a vital role in funding and logistical support, field training and emergency rapid response. Along with reduced funding, there is danger that the CDCs political leadership will fail to act consistently with the recommendations of the agencys own scientists.Since the creation of WHO, the world has embraced international cooperation in health. Throughout those decades, the U.S. was the unrivaled global health leader, recognizing that we all inhabit a single planet and face common health threats. In other words, on matters of health and the environment, we are all in this together. That ideal of international cooperation and solidarity will be sorely tested in the next four years.This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

January 8, 20255 min readWhy Time Slows When Youre in DangerIt seems like time slows in an emergency or in the heat of a sports match. Here are a few explanations for this altered perceptionBy Steve Taylor & The Conversation US Dana Tezarr/Getty ImagesThe following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research.We all know that time seems to pass at different speeds in different situations. For example, time appears to go slowly when we travel to unfamiliar places. A week in a foreign country seems much longer than week at home.Time also seems to pass slowly when we are bored, or in pain. It seems to speed up when were in a state of absorption, such as when we play music or chess, or paint or dance. More generally, most people report time seems to speed up as they get older.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.However, these variations in time perception are quite mild. Our experience of time can change in a much more radical way. In my new book, I describe what I call time expansion experiences in which seconds can stretch out into minutes.The reasons why time can speed up and slow down are a bit of a mystery. Some researchers, including me, think that mild variations in time perception are linked to information processing. As a general rule, the more information such as perceptions, sensations, thoughts that our minds process, the slower time seems to pass. Time passes slowly to children because they live in a world of newness.New environments stretch time because of their unfamiliarity. Absorption contracts time because our attention becomes narrow, and our minds become quiet, with few thoughts passing through. In contrast, boredom stretches time because our unfocused minds fill with a massive amount of thought-chatter.Time expansion experiencesTime expansion experiences (or Tees) can occur in an accident or emergency situation, such as a car crash, a fall or an attack. In time expansion experiences, time appears to expand by many orders of magnitude. In my research, I have found that around 85% of people have had at least one Tee.Around a half of Tees occur in accident and emergency situations. In such situations, people are often surprised by the amount of time they have to think and act. In fact, many people are convinced that time expansion saved them from their serious injury, or even saved their lives because it allowed them to take preventative action that would normally be impossible.For example, a woman who reported a Tee in which she avoided a metal barrier falling on to her car told me how a slowing down of the moment allowed her to decide how to escape the falling metal on us.Tees are also common in sport. For example, a participant described a Tee that occurred while playing ice hockey, when the play which seemed to last for about ten minutes all occurred in the space of about eight seconds. Tees also occur in moments of stillness and presence, during meditation or in natural surroundings.However, some of the most extreme Tees are linked to psychedelic substances, such as LSD or ayahuasca. In my collection of Tees, around 10% are linked to psychedelics. A man told me that, during an LSD experience, he looked at the stopwatch on his phone and the hundredths of a second were moving as slow as seconds normally move. It was really intense time dilation, he said.But why? One theory is that these experiences are linked to a release of noradrenaline (both a hormone and an neurotransmitter) in emergency situations, related to the fight or flight mechanism. However, this doesnt fit with the calm wellbeing people usually report in Tees.Even though their lives might be in danger, people usually feel strangely calm and relaxed. For example, a woman who had a Tee when she fell off a horse told me: The whole experience seemed to last for minutes. I was ultra-calm, unconcerned that the horse still hadnt recovered its balance and quite possibly could fall on top of me. The noradrenaline theory also doesnt fit with the fact that many Tees occur in peaceful situations, such as deep meditation or oneness with nature.Another theory I have considered is that Tees are an evolutionary adaptation. Maybe our ancestors developed the ability to slow down time in emergency situations such as encounters with deadly wild animals or natural disasters to improve their chances of survival. However, the above argument applies here too: this doesnt fit with the non-emergency situations when Tees occur.A third theory is that Tees arent real experiences, but illusions of recollection. In emergency situations, so this theory goes, our awareness becomes acute, so that we take in more perceptions than normal. These perceptions become encoded in our memories, so that when we recall the emergency situation, the extra memories create the impression that time passed slowly.However, in many Tees, people are certain that they had extra time to think and act. Time expansion allowed complex series of thoughts and actions that would have been impossible if time had been passing at a normal speed. In a recent (not yet published) poll of 280 Tees, I found that less than 3% of the participants believed that the experience was an illusion. Some 87% believed it was a real experience that happened in the present, while 10% were undecided.Altered states of consciousnessIn my view, the key to understanding Tees surrounds altered states of consciousness. The sudden shock of an accident may disrupt our normal psychological processes, causing an abrupt shift in consciousness. In sport, intense altered states occur due to what I call super-absorption.Absorption normally makes time pass faster as in flow, when we are absorbed in a task. But when absorption becomes especially intense, over a long period of sustained concentration, the opposite occurs, and time slows down radically.Altered states of consciousness can also affect our sense of identity, and our normal sense of separation between us and the world. As the psychologist Marc Wittmann has pointed out, our sense of time is closely bound up with our sense of self.We usually have a sense of living inside our mental space, with the world out there on the other side. One of the main features of intense altered states is that sense of separation fades. We no longer feel enclosed inside our minds, but feel connected to our surroundings.This means the boundary between us and the world softens. And in the process, our sense of time expands. We slip outside our normal consciousness, and into a different time-world.This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.