How the person-oriented approach facilitates the creation of statistical personas.Photo by Craig Whitehead onUnsplashHave you ever wondered if theres a better way to understand your users beyond simple survey metrics such as averages and medians? In my previous article, I discussed the person-oriented approach and compared it to the variable-oriented approach, describing how the person-oriented approach sees users as whole, unique entities, while the variable-oriented approach breaks users into parts and misses the big picture. Here, I will explain how much of a difference the person-oriented approach can make in your analyses as a UX researcher and how it will help you create data-driven personas. To do this, I will use artificial data generated by ChatGPT-4o from a survey Icreated.To better understand the user base and create quantitative personas, a UX researcher usually conducts surveys aimed at gathering insights into users behavior, habits, and past experiences. In this article, we assume the role of a UX researcher at a startup developing a product related to books, and we are interested in the users reading habits. To find out more about these habits, we have run a survey containing the following questions:Hypothetical survey questions. (Diagram created by theauthor)Imagine you have gathered 1000 responses for this short survey (the following visualizations are based on the data generated via Chat-GPT 4o, you can find the dataset here). How would you report theresults?Taking the routine, variable-oriented approach, you would answer these questions likethis:Users Preferred Reading Medium (Graph created by theauthor)Users Frequent Reading Conditions (Graph created by theauthor)Users Reading Frequency (Graph created by theauthor)While such data are informative, they often lack meaningful connections between different responses. For instance, you may know how many users prefer reading audiobooks, but it does not reveal how this preference correlates with other aspects, such as reading frequency or context. In the variable-oriented approach, these relationships are analyzed separately using correlations. For example, you may find that individuals who read in the mornings are more likely to prefer audiobooks. Although these correlations can be insightful, they fail to provide a comprehensive picture of the holistic identity of yourusers.To address this limitation, you may include demographic questions in your survey, such as age, gender, education level, or income, to provide more context and depth. However, demographics alone are insufficient to understand users mindsets or predict their future behaviors.To truly understand who the users are, we need a deeper analysis. This is where the person-oriented approach becomes invaluable.The use of person-oriented analysis to achieve deeper userinsightsIn the person-oriented approach, rather than analyzing each survey question independently, the goal is to understand participants as a whole. This involves identifying clusters of users with similar behaviors. To accomplish this, you can employ Latent Class Analysis(LCA).The meaning of latent in latent classanalysisBefore exploring how the person-oriented approach utilizes Latent Class Analysis (LCA), its essential to understand the term latent. In this context, latent refers to something that exists but is not immediately visible or directly measurable. LCA identifies these hidden variablesunderlying patterns or traits that go beyond the observable data, such as responses to survey questions. This method allows researchers to uncover and interpret these unseen factors that shape observable behaviors, classifying users based on these deeper, often unmeasured, characteristics.The person-oriented approach builds on this foundation by enhancing your analysis in three keyways:Discovering your participant groupshelping you identify distinct groups within your userbase.Revealing the unobservablesuncovering hidden patterns that typical survey metricsmiss.Adding dimensionality to the dataenabling a richer, more nuanced view of users behaviors and motivations.In the following sections, we will explore each of these aspects in depth and illustrate how they come to life in our example researchproject.1. Discovering your participant groupsParticipants who would select audiobooks in response to our survey question. (Illustrations generated by DALLE and arranged by the author in thediagram)In this illustration, we observe three distinct participants who have chosen audiobooks as their preferred reading medium. While all of them share this preference, their behaviors and preferences differ significantly. These differences become clear when we analyze their responses across all survey questions. For example, a participant who listens to audiobooks only a few times a month during their commute contrasts sharply with someone who listens daily everymorning.Rather than analyzing each survey question separately, this approach examines each participants entire set of responses across all questions. For example, a participant might indicate they listen to audiobooks while commuting a few times a month. These complete sets of responses are then classified using Latent Class Analysis (LCA), allowing us to group participants based on shared characteristics.By applying LCA to our mock dataset, we identified two distinct participant groups, known as LatentClasses:Group 1: The steadyscholarsThe first group identified through Latent Class Analysis. (Illustrations generated by DALLE and arranged by the author in thediagram)Group 2: The spontaneous explorersThe second group identified through Latent Class Analysis. (Illustrations generated by DALLE and arranged by the author in thediagram)In the charts above, you see the probabilities with which each group of users answered our questions. As shown, these two groups provided notably different responses. This insight allows us to take the next step: Identifying the underlying variables or characteristics that distinguish these groups from oneanother.2. Revealing the unobservablesLatent Class Analysis (LCA) aims to infer unobservable variables from observable ones. In this study, the observable variables are:Conditions in which users readbooksUsers readingmediumsUsers reading frequencyLCA enables us to go beyond these surface-level variables, linking them together to create a more comprehensive picture that adds depth to our understanding of user behavior.To identify the unobservable variables and interpret these groups, we need to examine the patterns in their responses. The Steady Scholars (group 1), for example, show a strong preference for physical booksa more conservative choice. They also tend to read daily, suggesting a propensity for maintaining routines. This groups second-most likely choice is reading a few times a week, and their selected reading times are regular and rhythmic, indicating a set routine. Overall, these patterns imply that the steady scholars may be conscientious, routine-oriented, and possibly more conservative in theirhabits.In contrast, The Spontaneous Explorers (group 2) lean toward more modern reading mediums, unlike the more traditional preferences seen in The Steady Scholars. They also show little regularity in reading frequency and reading conditions, suggesting a preference for novelty and spontaneity. This pattern implies a group of individuals who may be more novelty-seeking and less likely to adhere to strict routines, showing a lower level of conscientiousness compared to the steady scholars.In summary, these interpretations reveal two key factors differentiating the groups: openness to new experiences and conscientiousness. These two factors, which we might call our latent variables, represent the deeper traits underlying the observed behaviors. Interpreting these latent variables, however, requires a strong understanding of psychological theories of personality to draw meaningful conclusions.The process of deducing unobservable and latent variables from observable data for the steady scholars (group 1). (Illustrations generated by DALLE and arranged by the author in thediagram)The process of deducing unobservable and latent variables from observable data for the spontaneous explorers (group 2). (Illustrations generated by DALLE and arranged by the author in thediagram)Taking a look at what we have done here, we understand that the flow of interpretation, coming up with classes, and identifying the latent variables is as shownbelow:Diagram illustrating the process of discovering latent variables. (Diagram created by theauthor)Finding the unobservable variablesIdentifying unobservable variables requires a solid theoretical foundation, often found in personality psychology. Because these participant groups are likely to differ qualitatively, their traits are assumed to be rooted in stable personality characteristics rather than temporary states. Personality psychology provides scientifically grounded theories to guide this analysis, focusing on enduring traits that can distinguish betweengroups.Once you have identified potential personality traits that correspond to the latent classes youve found, you can generate various hypotheses to explore further. In our example, we inferred that openness and conscientiousness might underlie the observed behaviors in each group. With these assumptions, we can hypothesize additional characteristics and behaviors that may be associated with eachgroup:Additional traits of users with high openness to experience:Early adoption of new features orservicesHigher frequency ofbrowsingTendency to explore a variety ofgenresAdditional traits of users with high conscientiousness:Greater loyalty to theplatformMore frequentusageHigher likelihood of engaging with triggered notificationsIt is important to recognize, however, that not all behavioral differences stem from personality traits; environmental and social contexts can also shape user behaviors and should be considered in the analysis.3. Adding dimensionality to thedataEach dataset we work with can be thought of as having a dimensionality, especially when visualized. Consider binary data, for example, where responses to yes/no questions could be represented by a single dot that appears when the answer is yes and doesnt appear for no. This type of data is essentially 0-dimensional, as it contains only presence or absence. Lets revisit one of the variable-oriented results displayed earlier:Users Preferred Reading Medium (Graph created by theauthor)The data from this question can be viewed as 0-dimensional. It is composed of four binary questions (e.g., Do you usually read physical books?), and each participants response can be represented by a single dot. With a sample of 1,000 responses, we have a set of 0-dimensional data pointseach dot representing a participants answer to these yes/no questions.Illustration of user responses represented in a 0-dimensional space. (Graph created by theauthor)In this figure, each dot represents a participants response in a 0-dimensional space.By contrast, ordinal datasuch as responses on a Likert scale ranging from very bad to very goodhave a 1-dimensional nature because they map along a single line between two extremes. For instance, in our survey question How frequently do you read books? responses form a 1-dimensional dataset, representing a continuum from Daily toNever.Users Reading Frequency (Graph created by theauthor)Mapping users reading frequency onto a line in a 1-dimensional space. (Graph created by theauthor)These examples capture the dimensions typically used in the variable-oriented approach. In the person-oriented approach, however, the number of dimensions may increase with the number of survey questions, as each questions response is viewed as anaxis.In our 3-question survey example, for instance, the person-oriented approach sees a participants responses as coordinates in a 3-dimensional space, where each axis represents one survey question.A 3D space illustrating how survey questions contribute to the dimensionality of data in the person-oriented approach. (Axes derived from the colourbox)In this view, the data can span across as many dimensions as there are survey questions. But the story doesnt end here. When adopting the person-oriented approach, we assume that latent or hidden variables influence participants responses. Latent Class Analysis enables us to identify and interpret these underlying variables, representing participants placement in a space defined by the latent variables discovered.The space defined by latent variables, where dimensionality increases with the number of detected latent variables. (Graph created by theauthor)To deepen our understanding, lets turn back to our example of book readers. We previously identified three users who had selected audiobooks as their preferred readingmedium.Three distinct respondents who selected audiobooks as their preferred reading medium. (Diagram created by theauthor)Their responses can be visualized as coordinates on a 3-dimensional graph, with each dot representing one participant:Observed Variables: In the person-oriented approach, each survey participant is represented as a dot in an x-dimensional space, where x corresponds to the number of survey questions. (Graph created by theauthor)In the person-oriented approach, our participants are initially mapped in a 3-dimensional space based on their observed responses, as we had three survey questionsobserved variables. However, this is only the starting point. The X-dimensional space formed by observed responses can be refined into a simpler, more insightful space defined by latent (unobservable) variables. In our hypothetical analysis, we identified two such variablesopenness to new experiences and conscientiousness, both key personality factors.In this new, higher-level space, we no longer map individual participants; instead, we map classes or groups of participants identified through LCA. With two identified latent variables, our space becomes 2-dimensional, as illustrated below.Mapping user groups in an x-dimensional space, where x corresponds to the number of detected latent variables. (Graph created by theauthor)This approach offers a richer, more dimensional insight into user behaviors, helping us build a more comprehensive understanding of the user base and their unique characteristics.Why these analysesmatterGaining a deeper understanding of our users allows us to better predict their behavior when introducing new features, even when we are unsure how they might interact with them. As UX researchers, we typically avoid asking future-oriented questions, as such questions often fail to accurately reflect what users will do in the future. This limitation hinders our ability to reliably forecast user behavior.However, by leveraging the deep insights outlined in this article and understanding how users are segmented based on their personality traits, we can enhance our ability to predict their actions, decisions, and emotions when faced with new features or products.This is not how real-world data usuallylooksIn real-world datasets, user data seldom falls into such neat categories. Instead, distributions typically follow normal or exponential patterns, with group differences emerging as subtle shifts within these distributions. This makes LCA particularly valuable in real-world applications, where it excels at detecting anomalies and uncovering hidden structures within complexdata.Final thoughtsThis exercise highlights just how powerful Latent Class Analysis can be in user research. By combining a structured dataseteven an artificially generated onewith a method that goes beneath surface-level data, were able to reveal deeper patterns and traits that might otherwise go unnoticed. In a perfect world, real-world data would offer such clear divisions, but part of the value in LCA lies precisely in its ability to navigate and make sense of the messiness inherent in real data. As researchers, our goal isnt just to classify users but to understand the complex motivations and characteristics that drive their behavior. LCA provides us a unique lens for this purpose, pushing our understanding of users beyond broad demographics into the realm of nuanced, psychology-backed insights. This journey with LCA is just the beginningtheres always more to uncover beneath thesurface.Creating quantitative personas using latent class analysis was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Xreal announces a much-needed upgrade for its AR smart glasses, and gives us new specs too.

With AI's adoption growing, end-to-end integration in healthcare is becoming a must.

Creature Commandos actor Maria Bakalova reveals why she isn't ready to say goodbye to her DCU character Princess Ilana yet.

Californian start-up Aptera has debuted what it claims to be the first production-ready solar electric vehicle that doesn't need to be plugged in for day-to-day driving, developed with help from Pininfarina.Aptera debuted the vehicle which features solar panels on its hood, dash, roof and hatch at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week.The company claims the car could significantly reduce reliance on the grid for charging because, under the right conditions, it can drive up to 40 miles (64 kilometres) per day powered entirely by sunlight, with no need to be plugged in between uses.Aptera's electric vehicle has solar panels built into the roof and hatchThis should be enough to cover the daily needs of the average American, who drivesabout 37 miles (60km) per day.For longer drives or cloudy days, the Aptera vehicle includes a battery that the company says gives up to 400 miles (643km) of range from under an hour of charging.The car's range is enabled by its unusual design, intended to be ultra-aerodynamic. The three-wheeled, two-seater vehicle has a teardrop-shaped body, which was finessed in partnership with Italian automotive design studio Pininfarina.The solar panels enable the car to drive everyday trips without grid chargingAptera used the company's wind tunnel in Turin, Italy, to validate the design, working closely with the Pininfarina team to hone the shape so it would create the lowest possible drag coefficient a figure used to quantify the resistance an object experiences when moving through air.Aptera says its vehicle has the lowest drag coefficient of any production passenger vehicle "closer to an airplane's aerodynamics than to typical cars".The carmaker has not shared what exactly that figure is, although a specification document from 2023 shows the company was aiming for 0.13, whereas most modern vehicles come in at around 0.25 to 0.3.The car has two seats and three wheelsAnother key to the car's range is its lightweight body, primarily made from a type of carbon fibre called carbon fibre sheet moulding compound (CF-SMC).The material is mouldable into complex shapes, allowing the company to construct the light yet robust car from only six key body components.The CF-SMC is made by the CPC Group in Modena, Italy, which also serves luxury and sports car companies such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren.Read: Lotus unveils Theory 1 concept car as "design manifesto" for the futureAptera Motors said the debut of the "production-ready" vehicle marked a pivotal moment for the future of sustainable transportation."This vehicle embodies years of innovation and relentless pursuit of energy-efficient mobility," said co-CEO Chris Anthony. "CES is the perfect stage to share our vision and invite the world to join us in creating a cleaner, solar-powered future."This is the second go-round at making a solar electric vehicle for Aptera, which was founded in 2006 before running out of money and liquidating in 2011.The car is on show at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES)The original founders Anthony and Steven Fambro relaunched the company in 2019.As of October 2024, Aptera reported it had 50,000 pre-order reservation holders.The world's largest consumer electronics fair, CES is on from January 7 to 10. Alongside car companies revealing concepts, prototypes and production models, this year's event showcased a hormone thermometer, a three-in-one projector and a tiny cat robot that blows on soup to cool it.CES 2025takes place at various locations in Las Vegas from 7 to 10 January 2025. SeeDezeen Events Guidefor an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.The post Aptera reveals "production-ready" solar-powered car at CES appeared first on Dezeen.

The justices are expected to rule quickly in the case, which pits national security concerns about China against the First Amendments protection of free speech.

The social media app is likely to disappear from the app stores of Google and Apple right away. But its unclear if users will completely lose access.

MacworldMessages is designed to sync across all your devices logged into to the same iCloud account. iMessages sync by default; SMS/MMS and RCS messages sync if youve enabled access to them from your iPhone. (Go to Settings > Messages [iOS 17 and earlier] or Settings > Apps > Messages [iOS 18] and under Text Message Forwarding, decide which devices receive these.)If you haveMessages in iCloud enabled, syncing and backup occur in part through iCloud, creating an archive thats restored to devices if you set up a new computer, phone, or tablet.However, readers regularly reportand I recently saw myselfthat Messages in macOS can lose the figurative and literal thread: you either wait a long time or never see some or all messages received on other devices. This appears to happen infrequently on iPhones and iPads (or at least you arent emailing us about it). Heres what you can do to trigger the syncing.Is iMessage not working? Find out if iMessage is down and how to fix iMessage problems on iPhone and iPad in our separate article.RestartSometimes, > Restartis all you need to get syncing started back up again.Use Sync NowWith Messages in iCloud enabled, you can go toMessages > Settings > iMessageand click Sync Now.Disable and re-enable Messages in iCloudIf you have Messages in iCloud enabled, also visitMessages > Settings > iMessageand uncheck Enable Messages in iCloud. Youll receive a prompt that alerts you to what happens next: Messages downloads all message data to your Mac and then stops syncing. You can opt to click Disable This Device, and that turns off Messages in iCloud for this Mac. If youre having seemingly broader problems, click Disable All to turn it off on all iCloud-linked devices.To re-enable Messages in iCloud, just check the Enable Messages in iCloud box in macOS. In iOS and iPadOS, go to Settings >Account Name> iCloud > Messages and enable Use on this iPhone or Use on this iPad.Disabling and re-enabling Messages in iCloud might kick your Mac or iCloud servers in the right way to get syncing restarted.AppleSign out of MessagesMessages (and FaceTime) both have a separate iCloud option to sign out and back in. Go toMessages > Settings > iMessage, click Sign Out, and confirm. Now, sign back in.When I recently set up a new Mac using Migration Assistant, everything worked after restarting, but my entire Messages history was missing. Signing out and back into Messages started the long download process.Sign out of iCloudSigning out of iCloud on your Mac can be a bad idea except in extreme circumstances, as it tries to make local copies of data and, if you sign back in, can take a long time to resync and produce duplicate entries, among other issues. But if none of the above steps work, its worthwhile.Start by making sure you have a full local backup of all your files. If you are syncing your Photos Library with iCloud and are using optimized downloads (inPhotos > Settings > iCloud), youll be prompted to download all images and videos before signing out. Make sure you have enough storage if you want to have a local copy before proceeding.Next, go to System Settings >Account Nameand click Sign Out. macOS requires confirmation. All of your iCloud-synced or -linked apps will ask you about how to deal with locally stored data and data only stored in iCloud. Work through all of those questions. Now, sign back in.This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by a Macworld reader.Ask Mac 911Weve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns:read our super FAQto see if your question is covered. If not, were always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours tomac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered; we dont reply to emails, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.

This article first appeared in The Checkup,MIT Technology Reviewsweekly biotech newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Thursday, and read articles like this first,sign up here.This week marks a strange anniversaryits five years since most of us first heard about a virus causing a mysterious pneumonia. A virus that we later learned could cause a disease called covid-19. A virus that swept the globe and has since been reported to have been responsible for over 7 million deathsand counting.I first covered the virus in an article published on January 7, 2020, which had the headline Doctors scramble to identify mysterious illness emerging in China. For that article, and many others that followed it, I spoke to people who were experts on viruses, infectious disease, and epidemiology. Frequently, their answers to my questions about the virus, how it might spread, and the risks of a pandemic were the same: We dont know.We are facing the same uncertainty now with H5N1, the virus commonly known as bird flu. This virus has been decimating bird populations for years, and now a variant is rapidly spreading among dairy cattle in the US. We know it can cause severe disease in animals, and we know it can pass from animals to people who are in close contact with them. As of this Monday this week, we also know that it can cause severe disease in peoplea 65-year-old man in Louisiana became the first person in the US to die from an H5N1 infection.Scientists are increasingly concerned about a potential bird flu pandemic. The question is, given all the enduring uncertainty around the virus, what should we be doing now to prepare for the possibility? Can stockpiled vaccines save us? And, importantly, have we learned any lessons from a covid pandemic that still hasnt entirely fizzled out?Part of the challenge here is that it is impossible to predict how H5N1 will evolve.A variant of the virus caused disease in people in 1997, when there was a small but deadly outbreak in Hong Kong. Eighteen people had confirmed diagnoses, and six of them died. Since then, there have been sporadic cases around the worldbut no large outbreaks.As far as H5N1 is concerned, weve been relatively lucky, says Ali Khan, dean of the college of public health at the University of Nebraska. Influenza presents the greatest infectious-disease pandemic threat to humans, period, says Khan. The 1918 flu pandemic was caused by a type of influenza virus called H1N1 that appears to have jumped from birds to people. It is thought to have infected a third of the worlds population, and to have been responsible for around 50 million deaths.Another H1N1 virus was responsible for the 2009 swine flu pandemic. That virus hit younger people hardest, as they were less likely to have been exposed to similar variants and thus had much less immunity. It was responsible for somewhere between 151,700 and 575,400 deaths that year.To cause a pandemic, the H5N1 variants currently circulating in birds and dairy cattle in the US would need to undergo genetic changes that allow them to spread more easily from animals to people, spread more easily between people, and become more deadly in people. Unfortunately, we know from experience that viruses need only a few such changes to become more easily transmissible.And with each and every infection, the risk that a virus will acquire these dangerous genetic changes increases. Once a virus infects a host, it can evolve and swap chunks of genetic code with any other viruses that might also be infecting that host, whether its a bird, a pig, a cow, or a person. Its a big gambling game, says Marion Koopmans, a virologist at the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. And the gambling is going on at too large a scale for comfort.There are ways to improve our odds. For the best chance at preventing another pandemic, we need to get a handle on, and limit, the spread of the virus. Here, the US could have done a better job at limiting the spread in dairy cows, says Khan. It should have been found a lot earlier, he says. There should have been more aggressive measures to prevent transmission, to recognize what disease looks like within our communities, and to protect workers.States could also have done better at testing farm workers for infection, says Koopmans. Im surprised that I havent heard of an effort to eradicate it from cattle, she adds. A country like the US should be able to do that.The good news is that there are already systems in place for tracking the general spread of flu in people. The World Health Organizations Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System collects and analyzes samples of viruses collected from countries around the world. It allows the organization to make recommendations about seasonal flu vaccines and also helps scientists track the spread of various flu variants. Thats something we didnt have for the covid-19 virus when it first took off.We are also better placed to make vaccines. Some countries, including the US, are already stockpiling vaccines that should be at least somewhat effective against H5N1 (although it is difficult to predict exactly how effective they will be against some future variant). The US Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response plans to have up to 10 million doses of prefilled syringes and multidose vials prepared by the end of March, according to an email from a representative.The US Department of Health and Human Services has also said it will provide the pharmaceutical company Moderna with $176 million to create mRNA vaccines for pandemic influenzausing the same quick-turnaround vaccine production technology used in the companys covid-19 vaccines.Some question whether these vaccines should have already been offered to dairy farm workers in affected parts of the US. Many of these individuals have been exposed to the virus, a good chunk of them appear to have been infected with it, and some of them have become ill. If the decision had been up to Khan, he says, they would have been offered the H5N1 vaccine by now. And we should ensure they are offered seasonal flu vaccines in order to limit the risk that the two flu viruses will mingle inside one person, he adds.Others worry that 10 million vaccine doses arent enough for a country with a population of around 341 million. But health agencies walk a razor-thin line between having too much vaccine for something and not having enough, says Khan. If an outbreak never transpires, 340 million doses of vaccine will feel like an enormous waste of resources.We cant predict how well these viruses will work, either. Flu viruses mutate all the time, and even seasonal flu vaccines are notoriously unpredictable in their efficacy. I think weve become a little bit spoiled with the covid vaccines, says Koopmans. We were really, really lucky [to develop] vaccines with high efficacy.One vaccine lesson we should have learned from the covid-19 pandemic is the importance of equitable access to vaccines around the world. Unfortunately, its unlikely that we have. It is doubtful that low-income countries will have early access to [a pandemic influenza] vaccine unless the world takes action, Nicole Lurie of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) said in a recent interview for Gavi, a public-private alliance for vaccine equity.And another is the impact of vaccine hesitancy. Making vaccines might not be a problembut convincing people to take them might be, says Khan. We have an incoming administration that has lots of vaccine hesitancy, he points out. So while we may end up having vaccines available, its not very clear to me if we have the political and social will to actually implement good public health measures.This is another outcome that is impossible to predict, and I wont attempt to do so. But I am hoping that the relevant administrations will step up our defenses. And that this will be enough to prevent another devastating pandemic.Now read the rest of The CheckupRead more from MIT Technology Reviews archiveBird flu has been circulating in US dairy cows for months. Virologists are worried it could stick around on US farms forever.As the virus continues to spread, the risk of a pandemic continues to rise. We still dont really know how the virus is spreading, but we do know that it is turning up in raw milk. (Please dont drink raw milk.)mRNA vaccines helped us through the covid-19 pandemic. Now scientists are working on mRNA flu vaccinesincluding universal vaccines that could protect against multiple flu viruses.The next generation of mRNA vaccines is on the way. These vaccines are self-amplifying and essentially tell the body how to make more mRNA.Maybe theres an alternative to dairy farms of the type that are seeing H5N1 in their cattle. Scientists are engineering yeasts and plants with bovine genes so they can produce proteins normally found in milk, which can be used to make spreadable cheeses and ice cream. The cofounder of one company says a factory of bubbling yeast vats could replace 50,000 to 100,000 cows.From around the webBird flu has been circulating in US dairy cows for months. Virologists are worried it could stick around on US farms forever.As the virus continues to spread, the risk of a pandemic continues to rise. We still dont really know how the virus is spreading, but we do know that it is turning up in raw milk. (Please dont drink raw milk.)mRNA vaccines helped us through the covid-19 pandemic. Now scientists are working on mRNA flu vaccinesincluding universal vaccines that could protect against multiple flu viruses.The next generation of mRNA vaccines is on the way. These vaccines are self-amplifying and essentially tell the body how to make more mRNA.Maybe theres an alternative to dairy farms of the type that are seeing H5N1 in their cattle. Scientists are engineering yeasts and plants with bovine genes so they can produce proteins normally found in milk, which can be used to make spreadable cheeses and ice cream. The cofounder of one company says a factory of bubbling yeast vats could replace 50,000 to 100,000 cows.

Listening to someone is not the same as agreeing with themPublished inThe Medium BlogSent as aNewsletter3 min readJust now-- Be safe this weekendIssue #243: literary rejections, good storytelling, and unconscious envyIm guessing some of you saw this, but: Yesterday, at former U.S. President Jimmy Carters funeral, Barack Obama was seated next to Donald Trump. They were in the second row, behind Kamala Harris and surrounded by all 5 living U.S. presidents.The history of animosity between these two goes back three election cycles, and its not pretty. In 2012, Trump tweeted that Obamas birth certificate was fraudulent (its not). While campaigning in 2016, he referred to Obama as ignorant, a disaster, and the founder of ISIS. And recently, Obama finished a campaign tour for Kamala Harris presidential candidacy in which he argued that Trumps approach to politics is divisive and would be dangerous for the U.S. Its not an exaggeration to say their political careers have been partially built on tearing each other down, or at least positioning themselves as the better alternative.Yet, they seemed to get along fine yesterday. Maybe even more than fine. Trump told a joke (?) and Obama laughed. Obama whispered something back to him later in the ceremony.Image credit: CSPANThis made news. It surprised people. Some read the moment as hypocritical or sinister in some way, evidence that Americas leaders are unprincipled. Thats one take. A more positive perspective is that basic humanity transcends politics, which is actually pretty refreshing (to me, at least) right now, when everything from raging wildfires to private companies content moderation policies are immediately politicized to score Internet Points. Yes, its normal to be cordial toward your seatmate at a funeral. This shouldnt be controversial? Funerals are reminders that, no matter who youre dunking on today, no matter what power or money youve won or lost, our time here is short and most of this will be forgotten.(Small caveat to note the event was not grudge-less! Karen Pence and George W. Bush apparently both refused to shake Donald Trumps hand, though Bush did give Obama an amusing belly tap at one point.)Remember theres a time and place to disagree, wrote Saul Austerlitz on Medium a few years ago, in a story about how to talk to someone whos opinions you cant stand. Listening, even laughing with someone, is not the same as agreeing with them. Maybe thats a useful distinction to take with us into the weekend. Harris SockelWhat else were readingThe only way to get better is to fail first which, in YA author Dr. Casey Lawrences case, means facing 100 literary rejections last year (and celebrating them).The defining elements of great novels specificity, conflict, characters are the same ones that uplevel any type of communication, from company presentations to emails to strategy docs. Get yourself a hero and something they believe in, even if its just for your company all-hands. (Amy Widdowson, Mediums VP of Comms)Gaming historian Felipe Pepe traces the gentrification of video game history, and how not everyone grew up with N64 and Pokemon. Its less about the erasure of individual games than ways of playing (and interacting with people) like gaming in public at internet cafes as an alternative to exclusively playing at home. Your daily dose of practical wisdomSometimes, irritation is a form of unconscious envy. (J Snyder Art)