The death toll from Los Angeles catastrophic wildfires has risen to 24 and is expected to increase further. The 16 direct fatalities from the Eaton Fire alone make it Californias fifth-deadliest wildfire, while the Palisades Fire, with eight deaths, ranks as the states 14th-deadliest fire.However, the eventual death toll from the disaster is likely to be far, far, higher, once the health effects from the toxic smoke from the fires are fully realized. Additional deaths can be expected in the coming years because of the large-scale disruption to peoples lives that such a colossal disaster brings about similar to what has been found in the aftermath of major hurricanes, which have been linked to thousands of indirect deaths up to 15 years after they hit.People across the LA area have been breathing in unhealthy/hazardous air for days now, the health impacts of this are going to be enormous Dave Levitan (@davelevitan.bsky.social) 2025-01-10T14:51:25.752ZWildfire smoke is deadlyIn a 2020policy brief, Marshall Burke, an associate professor of Earth system science at Stanford University, wrote: Our research suggests that many more people likely perish from smoke exposure during large fire events than perish directly in the fire, and many more people are made sick.Wildfire smoke contains high levels of PM2.5, particles no larger than 2.5 microns in diameter. These have long been linked to increased risk of illness and death, as theyre small enough to enter the lungs and bloodstream, where they can harm thecardiovascularandrespiratorysystems.A 2024 study, Mortality attributable to PM2.5from wildland fires in California from 2008 to 2018, found that in 2018, the year the town of Paradise and several other communities burned, wildfire smoke may havekilled as many as 12,000Californians prematurely.And over the 11 years from 2008 to 2018, wildfire smoke likely contributed tomore than 52,000 premature deathsacross California nearly 5,000 deaths per year with aneconomic impactfrom the deaths of more than $430 billion, the study found.Its a problem beyond California. A 2024 paper, Long-term exposure to wildland fire smoke PM2.5and mortality in the contiguous United States, found that long-term exposure to wildfire smoke was likely responsible for over 11,000 deaths per year between 2007 and 2020. Globally, 46,000-99,000 people die yearly frominhaling PM2.5released by wildfires, with about 13% of those deaths attributable to climate change, according to a 2024 study,Attributing human mortality from fire PM2.5to climate change.An important reminder. If you're in/around Los Angeles today, you need to be wearing your N95 mask. If you have extras, maybe ask your neighbors if you can share with them. Eric Holthaus (@ericholthaus.com) 2025-01-08T17:01:29.138ZThe future health effects of wildfire smoke in a warming world are highly concerning. A 2024 paper, Mortality burden from wildfire smoke under future climate change, found that increases in wildfire smoke in the U.S. because of climate change could be expected to result in 27,800 excess deaths and $244 billion in damages per year by 2050 under a high warming scenario. Thats a 76% increase relative to estimated 2011-2020 averages, the authors wrote.Our research suggests that the health cost of climate-driven wildfire smoke could be among the most important and costly consequences of a warming climate in the U.S., the authors added.Our modern houses full of plastic burn faster, hotter, and release more toxic smoke. Your couch is like a block of gasoline. The gases from these can be toxic, and can't be filtered by an N95 like particulate matter can. Gift link: www.theatlantic.com/science/arch Zo Schlanger (@zoeschlanger.bsky.social) 2025-01-15T17:41:33.775ZHighly toxic smoke released by burning structuresSeveral million people in the Los Angeles area endured a two-day period of intense smoke that created air quality in the red Unhealthy range during the height of the fires, with higher levels in the Hazardous range close to the fires, according toEPA data. These air quality ratings just take into account the small particles tracked by EPA: PM2.5 (particles with a diameter of 2.5 millimeters or less). The Unhealthy rating of the air quality last weekdid nottake into account the remarkably toxic composition of the smoke from the urban nature of these fires.A potential analog situation occurred during the 2018 Camp Fire that burned over 18,000 structures in Paradise, California: Significant increases in both lead and zinc occurred in the air. The presence of lead is particularly concerning because lead exposure has been linked to high blood pressure, reproductive effects, and cancer. Infants and young children are especially sensitive to low levels of lead that are known to cause behavioral changes and learning deficits. Wildfire smoke alsocontainstoxic carcinogens similar to those found in cigarette smoke.If youre ever wondering why wildfire smoke is so bad for you its because it includes things like an entire bicycle sam (@decarboxy.chat) 2025-01-12T18:38:36.018ZBecause of the large population exposed to dangerous toxic smoke during last weeks fires, it is plausible that over the next few years, hundreds or thousands of Californians will die prematurely from breathing it. Of particular concern are the many elderly or sick people who evacuated and were forced to breathe very high concentrations of toxic smoke from burning buildings and vehicles. News footage of dozens of nursing home residents in wheelchairs thrust out in smoky streets was particularly heart-wrenching to see, as I knew that those vulnerable people would inevitably suffer high rates of health complications and death in the coming weeks.Short-term exposure (days or weeks) wildfire smokehas been strongly linkedto increasing severity of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), andCOVID-19; inflammation or infections, including bronchitis and pneumonia; emergency department visits; and hospital admissions, according to the California Air Resources Board.And a2024 paperreported that Long-term wildfire smoke exposure has been correlated with higher death rates from a variety of ailments, including cardiovascular, ischemic (blood-flow-related), digestive, endocrine, and chronic kidney disease.Spread of communicable diseases after the disasterThe spread of communicable diseases among the evacuees will also exact a toll. January is the height of the flu season, and California is experiencing very high levels of flu, according to theCDC. Flu and COVID-19 will likely spread rapidly among the tens of thousands of people forced to evacuate to shelters or temporary living quarters with friends or family.Comparison with excess mortality after a hurricane: Expect thousands of deathsIn a stunning paper released in 2024, Mortality caused by tropical cyclones in the UnitedStates, Rachel Young and Solomon Tsiang found that the average landfalling U.S. hurricane between 1930-2015 caused 24 direct deaths. However, they observed an increase in excess deaths mortality beyond what would otherwise be expected in that period that lingered for 15 years, totaling 7,000-11,000 excess deaths per storm. This burden is 300480 times greater than government estimates of direct deaths and was equivalent to 3.2-5.1% of all deaths across the contiguous United States.The largest single category of deaths was from cardiovascular disease (36%), while 12% of the deaths were from cancer, consistent with some evidence of stress from extreme weather affecting long-run health, the authors wrote.Young and Tsiang hypothesized five ways that hurricanes may have triggered excess mortality. Four of these factors may apply to a disastrous wildfire event like California just experienced:(1)Economic disruptionmight change household economic decisions, eventually translating into worsened health outcomes. For example, a person who loses a job might lose health insurance, too. Or retirement savings could be drawn down to repair property damage, both of which could reduce future spending on healthcare.(2)Social network changescould affect future health. For example, working-age people might move away, changing the social support for older people who remain behind.(3)Fiscal adjustmentsby state or local governments in response to the disastermay impact future health outcomes. For example, restructuring budgets to support recovery might reduce spending on healthcare infrastructure.(4)Heightened physical and mental stressmay alter health in the long term..The fifth factor the scientists hypothesized was thatchanges in the natural environmentcould harm healthfor example, ecological changes could redistribute disease vectors or flooding may expose populations to harmful chemicals. A flood is much different than a wildfire in how it affects the natural environment, so this factor has lesser relevance to wildfire than the other four.How to helpIn addition to sending my prayers and positive thoughts towards the victims of the Los Angeles fires, Ive been supporting several charities. I encourage everyone to help out in whatever way that they can. Below are Bluesky posts for some of the charities that Ive contributed to.Rapid Response: Air Filters for LAWe are providing fans and filters to help LA residents breathe cleaner air during these devastating fires. Follow this thread for updates and how to get involved.Donate to support:paypal.com/donate?campa Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation (US) (@crfoundationus.bsky.social) 2025-01-09T23:31:20.317ZWe are in active response mode for the Los Angeles wildfires.We need your help to continue our work!Read situation overview: disasterstrategies.org/disabled-dis The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (@disasterstrat.bsky.social) 2025-01-14T00:24:58.304ZFrom everyone at the California Academy of Sciences, our thoughts are with you. Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation: supportlafd.orgCalifornia Community Foundation: www.calfund.org California Academy of Sciences (@calacademy.bsky.social) 2025-01-14T00:38:32.943ZJeff MastersBob Henson contributed to this post.Thisarticlefirst appeared onYale Climate Connectionsand is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

An arched entryway and "electric blue millwork" are among the features in a rowhouse in Philadelphia's Society Hill neighbourhood that has been renovated by architectural studio TBo.Designed in the 1950s, the three-storey building is one in a series of brick townhouses by the Chinese-American architect IM Pei that were integrated into an area with small, historic homes as part of an urban renewal initiative.TBo has renovated a townhouse in Philadelphia originally designed by IM Pei"Pei used an uncomplicated and repetitive palette of materials for the townhouses brick and concrete on the exterior and oak ooring, oak casework, brick and blackened steel on the interior," said TBo.The buildings feature deep-set arched doorways and rectangular windows. The top is lined with clerestory windows that recall the gridded facades of the nearby Society Hill Towers, a trio of 31-storey residential buildings also designed by Pei.The original features include arched doorways and rectangular windowsTBo was tasked with updating a townhouse for a couple with grown children. The clients desired a casual home tailored to everyday use by two people, yet flexible enough to accommodate visits from family.TBo sought to honour Pei's original material palette while creating "a new voice through experimentations with the colour and textural quality of these materials"."TBo focused on restoring many of the original elements, while selectively enhancing the space by incorporating earthy and natural elements and a palette of bright colours reminiscent of the early modernist experiments," the team said.One side of the kitchen features electric blue millworkIn addition to a marble and oak entry niche, the ground level features a dining area in the front of the plan and a living room in the rear, separated by a kitchen and central stairwell.Partition walls around the kitchen were removed, enabling a freer flow of movement through the house.Along one side of the kitchen, the team incorporated warm oak cabinetry and a Blue de Savoie marble counter. The other side features a more unconventional solution.Warm oak cabinetry was paired with a marble counter on the other side of the kitchen"The clients eschewed traditional cabinetry here, opting instead for a sinuous band of electric blue millwork with matching concrete counter and sink," the team said.Upstairs, the first floor contains the primary bedroom suite, where free-floating closets and wall-mounted vanities help the room feel spacious and unencumbered.Read: Shiftspace brings IM Pei rowhouse in Philadelphia back to "original vision"Across from the main bedroom is a cosy library, which features shelving to hold the clients' large collection of art books and historic Dutch maps.A fireplace in the library has a brick surround that mimics the building's exterior vocabulary."The studio chose to keep the original brick on the chimney breast, the same historically inspired brick bond and jointing used on the exteriors of the buildings," the team said.The library's shelves hold the clients' collection of art books and historic mapsThe top floor of the townhouse contains three bedrooms and two bathrooms.Drawing upon the clients' love of texture and colour, multi-coloured cement tiles in a variety of patterns are found in the bathrooms.Throughout the home, original oak flooring was restored, and oak doors and transoms were introduced to bring daylight deep into the home.The fireplace echoes the brick of the building's exteriorThe home's staircase was carefully rethought, as the clients wanted a taller and sturdier bannister to "help keep their light-footed grandkids safe".In turn, the team created a blackened steel handrail that takes cues from designs found in a handful of houses by Pei.The bathrooms feature multi-coloured cement tiles"TBo employed a strategy of combining simple geometries circle, line, square into unusual combinations," the team said."The handrail is composed of very basic steel sections but becomes really dynamic in response to eld conditions."The handrail of the staircase takes cues from other designs by PeiThe home is furnished with a mix of new and vintage pieces, including a dining table by furniture brand Form & Refine, vintage Cliord Pascoe chairs and a lounge chair from Hem.Local firm Shiftspace has renovated another of the IM Pei rowhouses, while elsewhere in Philadelphia, ISA created a skinny metal-clad apartment building.The photography is by Kate S Jordan.Project credits:Architecture and interiors: TBoContractor: Hivemind ConstructionMillwork: Loubier DesignConcrete: Majestic Concrete DesignMetalwork: BenFab Architectural MetalworkThe post TBo refreshes Philadelphia townhouse originally designed by IM Pei appeared first on Dezeen.

Although its legally required in many establishments, a fire extinguisher should really be a part of everyones homes. We have plenty of things that could be potential fire hazards, from kitchen appliances to dozens of consumer electronics, and we have plenty of important things to protect in our houses. But as it turns out, the iconic red fire extinguisher might not really be enough for modern-day needs.In addition to different extinguishing agents, the very design of the tool itself is both difficult to use and downright ugly. Most people try to hide it from sight, which results in these life-saving tools being out of reach in case of emergencies. A redesign of that decades-old convention is long overdue, and this design concept offers a possible solution that attacks the problem from different angles.Designer: found/FoundedThe red canister is probably the most well-known fire extinguisher, but few actually realize that it isnt the only kind available. There are at least two common types, distinguished by their red and green colors, for different uses. In fact, the red fire extinguisher shouldnt be used when putting out fires involving electronic devices, one of the most common kinds of objects found in homes and establishments today.As if it wasnt bad enough to know which type of extinguishing agent is needed, we also need to have different types of fire extinguishers around to cover all those possibilities. In an emergency, can you really trust yourself to know which one to grab? The HERE fire extinguisher concept relieves you of that worry by offering a single tool to cover all eventualities so you dont have to think too hard.The dual-agent fire extinguisher, as its name implies, holds both kinds of chemicals for different fire types. More importantly, however, it has a very simple mechanism to switch between those types. A B C covers pretty much all the common, electrical, and gaseous fires, while K is for kitchens with oily substances. For all of the above situations, theres even an A B C + K mode to cover all your bases. You dont have to think hard about which one you need, and a simple slider lets you select the right agent for the right job.HERE also has other conveniences, like two built-in flashlights to see through the smoke. Its design also leaves no room for guesswork on how to use it, with an obvious pin to pull, a sturdy handle to grasp, and a lever to push down to release the extinguishing agent. Unlike common fire extinguisher designs, the tools form actually inspires confidence because of its unibody structure and the absence of flimsy-looking parts.Plus, the HERE fire extinguisher actually looks visually interesting and non-offensive. Its coated with a bright yellow paint that makes it more visible than red or green. It stands out but not in a bad way, allowing you to showcase it in a very conspicuous place without feeling embarrassed, confident that you know exactly where it will be when you need it.The post Dual-agent fire extinguisher concept gives safety a much-needed upgrade first appeared on Yanko Design.

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MacworldAt a glanceExpert's RatingProsLooks greatFolder backupMedia playbackConsUnlock processOur Verdict Up against the likes of OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox and more, pCloud stands out for its ease of use, colorful interface and flexible payment options.Price When ReviewedThis value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefinedBest Pricing TodayPrice When Reviewed199 EuroBest Prices Today: pCloudRetailerPricepCloud199,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketWeve been testing a huge number of cloud-based storage services for your Mac, and while the usual mainstays are still easy to recommend, pCloud might just be worth a look for you.The Mac app is relatively barebones, but it essentially works in the same way as its rivals, albeit with a delightful web interface (who knew a splash of color could make such a difference?), and the option to buy a lifetime subscription outright. It also acts as a great media player, even in the web app.Are those features enough to catapult it into first place? Not quite. A bizarre unlock process to open up additional free storage is neat but a little irritating, while some of its features like file history are tucked behind an additional paywall.Still, if youve not tried pCloud its well worth a look, particularly if youre a little fed up of the usual heavy-hitters.First ImpressionsFile Backup: You can point pCloud at a folder or drive on your Mac and itll keep it in the cloud for you.FoundryOnce youre signed up for an account and download the pCloud Drive app, pCloud will let you upload and sync files on your Mac, so you can point it at a specific location and know itll keep things up to date. Its a nice, hands-free backup option to have switched on just in case you need it.As with many apps of its ilk, though, its essentially a wrapped for the web app. Thankfully, pClouds web app is clean, easy-to-navigate, and has a touch of color (youd be surprised at how rare that is).Unlocking Process: The way users unlock more storage could be seen as an inconvenienceFoundryRight off the bat, youll get access to 4GB of free storage, less than were used to but, through the option to unlock that can be raised to 10GB. On the one hand, thats nice, and double what some offer, but on the other, needing to invite a friend for an extra 1GB of storage feels pointless just give us the 10GB upfront!pCloud featuresEncryption: Encryption will cost extra, even if youre on a lifetime planFoundryThe secret sauce of OneDrive and Google Drive is that theyre great for creating files as well as storing them, but as with Sync and DropBox, pCloud is much closer to a place to edit documents shared between users, or backed up in the cloud for safe-keeping.Thats a key distinction because you wont be creating documents in pCloud, but that means its a very lightweight and breezy interface as a result.You can store and share all types of files, as well as setting a directory for a local folder on your Mac to keep backed up. You can also use a File Requests option to ask for files without sharing your pCloud account information.Perhaps my favorite feature is that media plays so well within pCloud. Saved a video? Youll be able to watch it via the in-window player, and the same can be said for audio and images, too. You can even backup social media profiles, which could be ideal for anyone working in community management.Additional costs are incurred for file history for 360 days (thats $80 per year), but you do get 15 days to recover files for free, or 30 days with premium. Theres also a Vault for storing items with client-side encryption, but thatll set for back $4.99 per month.That brings us nicely to cost. You can pay $59.88/59.88 (currently $49.99/49.99) for 500GB for a year, or $119.88/119.88 (currently $99.99/99.99) for 2TB, which is a solid deal. You can also go for lifetime versions, with 500GB for $299/299 (currently $199/199) or $599/599 (currently $399/399) for 2TB, or splash $1,890/1,890 (currently $1190/1190) for lifetime access to a whopping 10TB of storage.Sadly, those additional features (the extra file history and vault) arent included in those lifetime plans. Considering a user may spend well over $1,000, thats something worth considering.pCloud annoyancesWeb App: pCloud is pretty welcoming to look at, which is surprisingly rare.FoundryAside from those pricing gripes, pCloud is pretty fantastic as an alternative to some of the usual suspects.That initial unlocking process to get you to the 10GB of free storage feels a minor issue, and you wont be able to edit documents within pCloud, but short of that, its a fantastic option.Should you buy pCloud?If youre looking for lifetime cloud storage, pCloud is well worth a look. Its also easy to use and has some great extra features that could make it a dream for big libraries of home movies and pictures.

A reliable leaker has shared a new image that suggests the upcoming iPhone SE 4 will feature Apple's Dynamic Island.Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 ProOn Monday, Evan Blass told X followers that the iPad Air would get an M3 upgrade, rather than the alleged M4 upgrade others have suggested. A mere few hours later, Blass alleges that Apple's next iPhone SE could ditch its notch for the Dynamic Island.Blass shared the following image, which shows four upcoming Apple devices. Among them was an iPhone that can safely be assumed to be the iPhone SE, as the iPhone 17 likely won't debut until the fall. Rumor Score: Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The wait for Team Cherrys Hollow Knight: Silksong has been maddening for its fan base, to say the least. Co-creator William Pellens recently Twitter profile changes encouraged fans to embark on an apparent ARG, potentially hinting at a reveal on April 2nd.Unfortunately, Matthew Leth Griffin, in charge of marketing and publishing, confirmed privately to YouTuber fireb0rn that these meant nothing, and theres no ARG. Thankfully, Griffin has since replied to an impassioned user asking if the game is real. Yes, the game is real, progressing and will release.Its all well and good, but there have still been very few updates by Team Cherry since the Metroidvania title was delayed past the first half of 2023. A lead playtester indicated the project is not in development hell, previously promising it would be worth the wait. As always, we await further details or even a new trailer.Hollow Knight: Silksong was first announced in February 2019. Its coming to Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch while also releasing on day one for Game Pass.Leth reached out to me to confirm there was no Silksong ARG and that the changes to Williams account and the tweet were a nothingburger. Apologies to have misled everyone. The cake was a lie. fireb0rn (@fireb0rn) January 18, 2025Yes the game is real, progressing and will release. <3 Matthew Griffin (@griffinmatta) January 18, 2025

Students or emerging practitioners focused on making their mark in the architecture world are encouraged to apply for the RAIC Foundations 2025 Scholarships and Bursaries to receive recognition and monetary support for their work.The Foundation was established in 1964 and is governed by a Board of Trustees and is committed to advancing excellence and knowledge in Canadian architecture.The Foundations objectives include supporting students and interns in their architectural programs, promoting public discussion of architectural ideas affecting society, and supporting scholars in advanced research relating to community and the built environment.The 2025 portfolio features expanded opportunities such as the new Bing Thom Award, which is an essay competition open to all students enrolled in a Canadian school of architecture, or in the RAIC Syllabus Program. The eligibility criteria for the College of Fellows Centennial Fund has also been expanded and will offer two awards this year.To learn more about each opportunity, and review eligibility and submission requirements, visit the RAIC Scholarships and Bursaries webpage, and see the following.For Students:Bing Thom Award two awards of $3500 each | Apply by March 7Canada Green Building Council Scholarship for Sustainable Design and Research* $5,000 | Apply by March 7Vince Catalli Scholarship in Sustainable Design Innovation* $5,000 | Apply by May 2The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto Foundations Award for Architectural Conservation $1,000 | Apply by May 2Kiyoshi Matsuzaki Scholarship(for RAIC Syllabus students only) $3,000 | Apply by May 2*Submissions for these awards are limited to one or two for each accredited school. Schools will select student(s) to apply.For Interns / Intern Architects / Architects:RAIC Foundation Bursary $2,500 | Apply by March 7David Thom Leadership Award $5,000 | Apply by March 7College of Fellows Centennial Fund* $5,000 | Apply by May 2*The terms of reference were revised in 2024 to extend the eligibility of the grants awarded by the COF Centennial Fund to graduates of an accredited Canadian school of architecture and graduates of the RAIC Syllabus program, in addition to Interns/Intern Architects.The post Applications open for 2025 RAICF Scholarships and Bursaries appeared first on Canadian Architect.

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn MoreChinese AI startup DeepSeek, known for challenging leading AI vendors with open-source technologies, just dropped another bombshell: a new open reasoning LLM called DeepSeek-R1.Based on the recently introduced DeepSeek V3 mixture-of-experts model, DeepSeek-R1 matches the performance of o1, OpenAIs frontier reasoning LLM, across math, coding and reasoning tasks. The best part? It does this at a much more tempting cost, proving to be 90-95% more affordable than the latter.The release marks a major leap forward in the open-source arena. It showcases that open models are further closing the gap with closed commercial models in the race to artificial general intelligence (AGI). To show the prowess of its work, DeepSeek also used R1 to distill six Llama and Qwen models, taking their performance to new levels. In one case, the distilled version of Qwen-1.5B outperformed much bigger models, GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet, in select math benchmarks.These distilled models, along with the main R1, have been open-sourced and are available on Hugging Face under an MIT license.What does DeepSeek-R1 bring to the table?The focus is sharpening on artificial general intelligence (AGI), a level of AI that can perform intellectual tasks like humans. A lot of teams are doubling down on enhancing models reasoning capabilities. OpenAI made the first notable move in the domain with its o1 model, which uses a chain-of-thought reasoning process to tackle a problem. Through RL (reinforcement learning, or reward-driven optimization), o1 learns to hone its chain of thought and refine the strategies it uses ultimately learning to recognize and correct its mistakes, or try new approaches when the current ones arent working.Now, continuing the work in this direction, DeepSeek has released DeepSeek-R1, which uses a combination of RL and supervised fine-tuning to handle complex reasoning tasks and match the performance of o1.When tested, DeepSeek-R1 scored 79.8% on AIME 2024 mathematics tests and 97.3% on MATH-500. It also achieved a 2,029 rating on Codeforces better than 96.3% of human programmers. In contrast, o1-1217 scored 79.2%, 96.4% and 96.6% respectively on these benchmarks.It also demonstrated strong general knowledge, with 90.8% accuracy on MMLU, just behind o1s 91.8%.Performance of DeepSeek-R1 vs OpenAI o1 and o1-miniThe training pipelineDeepSeek-R1s reasoning performance marks a big win for the Chinese startup in the US-dominated AI space, especially as the entire work is open-source, including how the company trained the whole thing.However, the work isnt as straightforward as it sounds.According to the paper describing the research, DeepSeek-R1 was developed as an enhanced version of DeepSeek-R1-Zero a breakthrough model trained solely from reinforcement learning.The company first used DeepSeek-V3-base as the base model, developing its reasoning capabilities without employing supervised data, essentially focusing only on its self-evolution through a pure RL-based trial-and-error process. Developed intrinsically from the work, this ability ensures the model can solve increasingly complex reasoning tasks by leveraging extended test-time computation to explore and refine its thought processes in greater depth.During training, DeepSeek-R1-Zero naturally emerged with numerous powerful and interesting reasoning behaviors, the researchers note in the paper. After thousands of RL steps, DeepSeek-R1-Zero exhibits super performance on reasoning benchmarks. For instance, the pass@1 score on AIME 2024 increases from 15.6% to 71.0%, and with majority voting, the score further improves to 86.7%, matching the performance of OpenAI-o1-0912. However, despite showing improved performance, including behaviors like reflection and exploration of alternatives, the initial model did show some problems, including poor readability and language mixing. To fix this, the company built on the work done for R1-Zero, using a multi-stage approach combining both supervised learning and reinforcement learning, and thus came up with the enhanced R1 model.Specifically, we begin by collecting thousands of cold-start data to fine-tune the DeepSeek-V3-Base model, the researchers explained. Following this, we perform reasoning-oriented RL like DeepSeek-R1- Zero. Upon nearing convergence in the RL process, we create new SFT data through rejection sampling on the RL checkpoint, combined with supervised data from DeepSeek-V3 in domains such as writing, factual QA, and self-cognition, and then retrain the DeepSeek-V3-Base model. After fine-tuning with the new data, the checkpoint undergoes an additional RL process, taking into account prompts from all scenarios. After these steps, we obtained a checkpoint referred to as DeepSeek-R1, which achieves performance on par with OpenAI-o1-1217. Far more affordable than o1In addition to enhanced performance that nearly matches OpenAIs o1 across benchmarks, the new DeepSeek-R1 is also very affordable. Specifically, where OpenAI o1 costs $15 per million input tokens and $60 per million output tokens, DeepSeek Reasoner, which is based on the R1 model, costs $0.55 per million input and $2.19 per million output tokens.The model can be tested as DeepThink on the DeepSeek chat platform, which is similar to ChatGPT. Interested users can access the model weights and code repository via Hugging Face, under an MIT license, or can go with the API for direct integration.Daily insights on business use cases with VB DailyIf you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI.Read our Privacy PolicyThanks for subscribing. 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