The need for speed Researchers optimize simulations of molecules on quantum computers A new approach to simulating the electrons of small molecules like catalysts. John Timmer Jan 24, 2025 10:51 am | 5 Credit: Douglas Sacha Credit: Douglas Sacha Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreOne of the most frequently asked questions about quantum computers is a simple one: When will they be useful?If you talk to people in the field, you'll generally get a response in the form of another question: useful for what? Quantum computing can be applied to a large range of problems, some of them considerably more complex than others. Utility will come for some of the simpler problems first, but further hardware progress is needed before we can begin tackling some of the more complex ones.One that should be easiest to solve involves modeling the behavior of some simple catalysts. The electrons of these catalysts, which are critical for their chemical activity, obey the rules of quantum mechanics, which makes it relatively easy to explore them with a quantum computer.But it's not easy to understand how those simulations will actually work or what limits dictate the hardware we'll need before we can run themgenerally estimated to be around 100 error-corrected qubits. On Wednesday, Nature Physics published a paper that describes the simulation of some aspects of simple catalysts on quantum computers and provides a way to dramatically simplify the calculations. The resulting algorithmic improvements mean that we may not need to wait for error correction to run useful simulations.Spin cityThe behavior of a catalyst depends on its electrons, and their behavior depends on a combination of the orbital they occupy and their spin (which can be up or down). If electrons share an orbital with a partner, they will have opposite spins and essentially cancel each other out. But a lot of chemistry involves unpaired electrons, which have what you might think of as exposed spin. The spins affect the energy levels they can occupy and can interact with unpaired spins elsewhere in the molecule.But spin is a quantum property, with all the complications that ensue from that. And the more unpaired spins a molecule has, the more complicated the interactions among them. The net result is that predicting the spins of a molecule like a catalyst quickly becomes computationally intractable.But since a molecule's spins are a quantum system, it's possible to simulate their behavior on other quantum systems. In fact, a number of approaches to quantum computers, including those involving trapped ions or neutral atoms, store qubits in spins. But fully simulating how the electrons of a molecule interact over time involves a lot of qubits and a long series of the one- and two-qubit gate operations that are central to quantum computations.The new work, performed primarily by researchers at Berkeley and Harvard, describes a method to make a simulation work far more efficiently.Quantum magicThe process begins by using regular computers to simplify a problem to be solved using quantum hardware. This essentially gets rid of some aspects of the problem that aren't particularly relevant to most catalysts, like their behavior under extreme conditions. Instead, it simplifies the description of the system (termed a Hamiltonian) down to focus on the behavior of any unpaired spins when the system is at low energies.The Hamiltonian that describes the spins is then mapped onto a quantum processor, with a cluster of linked qubits devoted to the behavior of each individual spinning electron. This system is generic enough to be mapped onto any quantum hardware, and it can be made to evolve over time, just as the real-world system does.But the researchers found they could get better performance on the quantum side of things by using a quantum computer based on neutral atoms. A typical quantum computing algorithm assumes that all computational operations, termed gates, are done using either an individual qubit or pairs of qubits (these are termed one- or two-qubit gates). But since neutral atoms can be moved around, it's possible to group even more of them so that a small cluster of atoms performs a gate. These multi-qubit gates turn out to allow the specific computations needed here to be performed far more efficiently than they ever could if limited to two-qubit gates.The net result is a much faster operation involving far fewer gates. That's important because errors in quantum hardware increase as a function of both time and the number of operations.The researchers then used this approach to explore a chemical, Mn4O5Ca, that plays a key role in photosynthesis. Using this approach, they showed it's possible to calculate what's called the "spin ladder," or the list of the lowest-energy states the electrons can occupy. The energy differences between these states correspond to the wavelengths of light they can absorb or emit, so this also defines the spectrum of the molecule.Faster, but not quite fast enoughWe're not quite ready to run this system on today's quantum computers, as the error rates are still a bit too high. But because the operations needed to run this sort of algorithm can be done so efficiently, the error rates don't have to come down very much before the system will become viable. The primary determinant of whether it will run into an error is how far down the time dimension you run the simulation, plus the number of measurements of the system you take over that time."The algorithm is especially promising for near-term devices having favorable resource requirements quantified by the number of snapshots (sample complexity) and maximum evolution time (coherence) required for accurate spectral computation," the researchers wrote.But the work also makes a couple of larger points. The first is that quantum computers are fundamentally unlike other forms of computation we've developed. They're capable of running things that look like traditional algorithms, where operations are performed and a result is determined. But they're also quantum systems that are growing in complexity with each new generation of hardware, which makes them great at simulating other quantum systems. And there are a number of hard problems involving quantum systems we'd like to solve.In some ways, we may only be starting to scratch the surface of quantum computers' potential. Up until quite recently, there were a lot of hypotheticals; it now appears we're on the cusp of using one for some potentially useful computations. And that means more people will start thinking about clever ways we can solve problems with themincluding cases like this, where the hardware would be used in ways its designers might not have even considered.Nature Physics, 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s41567-024-02738-z (About DOIs).John TimmerSenior Science EditorJohn TimmerSenior Science Editor John is Ars Technica's science editor. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. When physically separated from his keyboard, he tends to seek out a bicycle, or a scenic location for communing with his hiking boots. 5 Comments

Anup Purohit, Executive Council Member and Global CIO, Wipro Limited January 24, 20254 Min ReadAndriy Popov via Alamy StockArtificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept -- its here, promising to revolutionize industries by unlocking unparalleled efficiency and innovation. Yet, despite this immense potential, AI adoption remains elusive for many organizations. Businesses are grappling with challenges like skill shortages, unpredictable cloud pricing, and high computing demands. These barriers have left AI out of reach for many companies, especially those with limited resources. But the good news is that new technologies are changing this landscape, making AI more accessible and affordable than ever before. From edge computing to no-code platforms and AutoML, businesses are increasingly finding ways to democratize AI, allowing them to leverage its power without breaking the bank. Emerging technologies are paving the way for AI adoption, offering businesses new opportunities to leverage these advancements for greater efficiency and innovation.Overcoming the Barriers to AI AdoptionThe barriers to AI adoption are well-documented. For many organizations, the cost of high-performance computing hardware, such as GPUs, and the unpredictability of cloud pricing have made AI investment seem risky. Additionally, a growing skill gap is preventing companies from finding the talent to manage and implement these technologies effectively.Related:Whats more, as AI systems become more complex, the need for highly specialized knowledge and tools to manage them grows. Organizations need solutions that simplify AI development and make it more cost-effective to deploy -- without the need for extensive technical expertise.Technologies Making AI More AccessibleSeveral key technologies are stepping up to tackle these barriers, providing businesses with the tools to integrate AI effectively.1. Edge computingEdge computing brings AI capabilities closer to data sources, allowing businesses to process and analyze data in real time. This proximity reduces latency and improves decision-making speed -- crucial for industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and retail that rely on real-time insights. By decentralizing data processing, edge computing lowers the demand for centralized cloud resources and reduces overall costs.2. No-code/Low-code platformsNo-code and low-code platforms are a game-changer for businesses that lack deep technical expertise. These platforms empower non-technical users to create and deploy AI models without writing complex code, making AI development more accessible and enabling a wider range of businesses to participate in AI-driven innovation, even with limited resources.Related:3. AutoMLAutomated machine learning (AutoML) simplifies the process of building AI models. AutoML tools automatically handle model selection, training, and optimization, allowing users to create high-performing AI systems without requiring data science expertise. By streamlining these tasks, the technology significantly lowers the barrier for businesses looking to integrate AI into their operations, making deployment easier and faster.4. AI on CPUsAIs computational demands, especially for tasks like training large language models, have traditionally required expensive GPU hardware. However, recent innovations are making it possible to run some AI models on more affordable CPUs. Techniques like quantization and frameworks like MLX are enabling smaller AI models to run efficiently on CPUs, broadening AIs accessibility and reducing the need for costly hardware investments.Collaboration: The Key to AI DemocratizationOrganizations cannot travel alone on the journey to making AI accessible. Collaboration between businesses will be essential to overcoming the barriers to AI adoption. By pooling resources, sharing expertise, and developing tailored solutions, companies can reduce costs and streamline the integration of AI into their operations.Related:Moreover, collaboration is critical for ensuringAI is implemented ethically and safely. As AIs role in society grows, organizations must work together to establish guidelines and best practices that foster trust and prevent misuse. Transparency in AI development and deployment will be key to its long-term success.Upskilling the Workforce to Build Trust in AIAnother challenge that organizations face is the need to upskill their workforce. As AI systems become more prevalent, employees must have the skills to manage, work alongside, and trust these technologies. Upskilling workers will alleviate concerns about data privacy, security, and job displacement, allowing for smoother AI adoption.Investing in training programs will not only help employees adapt to AI systems but also ensure that organizations maximize the benefits of these technologies. A skilled workforce can collaborate effectively with AI, leading to improved productivity and innovation. The broader IT skills shortage is expected to impact nine out of 10 organizations by 2026, leading to $5.5 trillion in delays, quality issues, and revenue loss, according to IDC.Unlocking AIs Potential Across IndustriesThe future of AI is bright, but its potential can only be fully realized when it becomes accessible to all. By leveraging technologies like edge computing, no-code platforms, and AutoML, businesses can overcome the barriers to AI adoption and unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation.Business leaders who invest in these technologies and prioritize upskilling their workforce will be well-positioned to thrive in an AI-powered future. With collaboration and a commitment to ethical implementation, AI can become a transformative force across industries, reshaping how we work, communicate, and innovate.Its time to embrace AIs possibilities and take the next step toward a more accessible, inclusive future.About the AuthorAnup PurohitExecutive Council Member and Global CIO, Wipro Limited Anup Purohit, Executive Council Member and Global CIO at Wipro Limited, leads the companys digital transformation with over 25 years in finance and tech, focusing on AI-driven security and business intelligence.See more from Anup PurohitNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

Mark Zuckerberg says Meta plans to spend another $60 billion in 2025 as it doubles down on AI.Zuckerberg said the company's data center in Louisiana will be near the size of Manhattan.Silicon Valley is nervous after DeepSeek, a Chinese newcomer, recently revealed its new AI model.Mark Zuckerberg warned investors in October that Meta planned to spend more than ever as the company leaned into the AI race.Now, they know just how much.Zuckerberg said in a Friday social media post that 2025 will be a "defining year for AI" and announced plans for $60 billion to $65 billion in additional capital investment for the year.In a post on Threads, Zuckerberg also touted the company's plans for its 2 GW data center in Louisiana, which he said would be "so large it would cover a significant part of Manhattan."He also predicted that Meta AI would become "the leading assistant," serving over 1 billion users."We'll bring online ~1GW of compute in '25 and we'll end the year with more than 1.3 million GPUs," he said. "We're planning to invest $60-65B in capex this year while also growing our AI teams significantly, and we have the capital to continue investing in the years ahead."Meta's stock dipped Friday morning after Zuckerberg's announcement, but it quickly recovered.In its Q3 earnings call, Meta said it anticipated "significant capital expenditures growth in 2025" as Zuckerberg explained that he's happy to keep up heavy spending on AI.AI had "a positive impact on nearly all aspects of our work," he said at the time, noting that he saw "a lot of new opportunities to use new AI advances to accelerate our core business."Zuckerberg's announcement came as Silicon Valley processes news that DeepSeek, a Chinese company, has developed an open-source AI model that outperformed some Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic models in third-party benchmarks.AI and China was a major topic of conversation at this week's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland."We should take the developments out of China very, very seriously," said Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, which is OpenAI's largest investor.

Laura Sterner, Steve Cohen's top fundraiser, is leaving Point72.Sterner has worked for Cohen since 2015 and was critical to raising billions for the firm's relaunch.A person close to the $37 billion manager said Sterner's deputy will assume her responsibilities.Steve Cohen's $37 billion hedge fund is losing what the firm describes as its "primary point of contact with external investors," three people with knowledge told Business Insider.Laura Sterner, the global head of capital development and investor relations at Point72 Asset Management, is departing the manager after working for Cohen for nearly a decade. A person close to the firm said Sterner is taking on a senior role at a healthcare venture.Sterner has worked with Cohen since 2015, when the firm was managing Cohen's personal capital, and was an "integral part" of the firm's nearly $4 billion fundraise in 2018 when the firm reopened to external capital, according to her bio on the firm's website.Cohen, the owner of Major League Baseball's New York Mets, was barred from managing outside cash for two years following a settlement with federal regulators, which investigated Point72's predecessor, SAC Capital, for insider trading. The former firm pleaded guilty and paid a $1.8 billion fine but Cohen was not personally charged and did not admit or deny liability for the actions of a few of his employees as a part of the settlement.Sterner has been in her current leadership role since Point72 started taking outside capital, according to her LinkedIn, a period of time when the firm's assets skyrocketed. Since 2020, the firm's assets have more than doubled, and The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that the manager plans to return up to $5 billion in capital this year to investors following a strong performance in 2024.Point72 made 19% last year, trailing only Schonfeld among its peer set, and beating out larger rivals Citadel and Millennium, BI previously reported.A person close to the manager told BI that Elena Bukowski, the firm's deputy head of capital development and investor relations, will take on Sterner's responsibilities. Bukowski has been with the firm since 2018 and previously worked in marketing and investor relationsSterner started her career at Lehman Brothers, according to her LinkedIn, and worked at UBS as the firm's head of liquid alternative research before working as a consultant for several years.

This embedded content failed to load.There was never going to be a winner of the bloody conflict that has raged in the Middle East for the past 15 months not considering how the war began or the destruction it has caused. But after a tentative ceasefire went into effect on Sunday, its hard to avoid the conclusion that Israel and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, have largely been able to accomplish their objectives, while conceding far less than seemed possible for much of the course of the war. Lets start with whats most obvious and tragic: We lost the war on October 7, Nimrod Novik, a former senior adviser to the late Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, told Vox. Everything after that was trying to restore our confidence in our strength, in our security, in the fact that Israel is well protected by our security forces. I believe that objective has been accomplished.Netanyahu sounded a triumphant note in announcing the ceasefire last week, saying that all of the objectives of the war had been accomplished, including returning all of our hostages, eliminating Hamas military and governing capabilities and ensuring that Gaza will never again constitute a threat to our country.RelatedWhats in the Gaza ceasefire deal? And can it last?Following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 Israelis and took more than 250 hostages, Israels war in Gaza killed more than 46,000 people, according to local authorities. Thousands more were killed in Israels campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Around 90 percent of Gazas population has been displaced, and malnutrition and disease are rampant. Multiple international organizations have accused Israel of genocide and Netanyahu himself has been charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court. And yet, in the view of many of the Israeli governments backers, the campaign since October 7 in both Gaza and the wider Middle East succeeded not just in enhancing Israels security, but in dealing a massive blow to the regional ambitions of Iran, which prior to the attack was seen by Israeli leaders as the much more serious threat to their security. Netanyahu, who for months faced protests and calls for his resignation over the security failures that led to October 7, the failure to secure the release of the hostages afterward, and a raft of preexisting personal scandals, has seen a stunning rise in his poll numbers. And despite frequent tension between the US and Israel in recent months over Israeli tactics and the growing civilian toll of the war, the outgoing Biden administration believes its ongoing support for Israel in the face of widespread criticism and the loss of at least some support during the last presidential election was ultimately vindicated by the results. It is just impossible, and Im speaking from the Middle East, to overstate how significantly this region has changed, said a senior Biden administration official, speaking on background shortly after the ceasefire was announced on January 15. Our adversaries are significantly weaker. Our partners and allies are significantly stronger.History has not been kind to previous predictions of regional transformation in the Middle East: Recall former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rices infamous 2006 description of a previous Israel-Hezbollah war as the birth pangs of a new Middle East, or for that matter Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivans assessment, just days before October 7, that the region was quieter than it had been for two decades. The reality is that whatever security Israel may have bought itself with 15 months of brutal fighting may prove to be short-lived. And the number one reason is that Hamas the militant group responsible for October 7 is anything but destroyed. Hamas is down, but not outNetanyahu and other senior Israeli officials had long vowed to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed. By that standard, at least, the war effort has not succeeded. Numbers tell the story: Of the roughly 30,000 fighters in Hamass ranks on October 7, the Israeli military believes it has killed around 17,000 including Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the attack and detained thousands more. But US officials say the group has managed to recruit nearly as many fighters as it has lost. The ceasefire deal, which is divided into three phases, largely punted on the question of Gazas future governance. Right now, all thats been formally agreed is phase 1 of the deal, which includes a cessation of hostilities, the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the exchange of hostages and prisoners. Questions about the reconstruction of the territory which has seen 92 percent of its housing destroyed or damaged, according to the UN and its political future will be taken up in phase 3, which is still to be negotiated. Regional leaders and the previous US administration have favored the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, taking over governance in Gaza, but the authority is very unpopular with Palestinians, and is opposed by the Israelis as well.And so, for all the months of debate about who would govern Gaza the day after, the answer for the moment at least appears to be: Hamas. The group is still the de facto governing authority in most of the strip and faces few domestic rivals. Hamas obviously hasnt been dislodged. I think Israel has very much failed in that sense, said Tahani Mustafa, senior Palestine analyst at the International Crisis Group. Whether its the dominant political force, I think thats something only time will tell.Still, the Biden official pushed back on the notion that the group has weathered the Israeli onslaught, pointing out the killing of many of Hamass senior leaders and the destruction of much of its command infrastructure. It is a far cry from an organization that invaded Israel in military formations with thousands of organized fighters on October 7, the official said. Its ability to do that, I really believe, has been forever foreclosed.Of course, Biden himself assessed back in May, when the militant group had accepted a ceasefire deal broadly similar to this one, that Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another October 7th. But Netanyahu and his defenders would no doubt counter that if they had taken a deal at that time, Sinwar would still be alive, as would Hassan Nasrallah and the senior leadership of Hezbollah, all of whom were killed as Israel ramped up its war in Lebanon. In recent weeks, Hamas has made some significant concessions in negotiations, including agreeing to a deal that temporarily leaves IDF troops in parts of Gaza as the ceasefire takes effect, which US officials have credited to the military pressure the group was under as well as the damage sustained by Irans proxy network. One argument is that Hamas was more willing to negotiate when it saw that Hezbollah and Iran were in no position to help. Whether Israels gains in those months were worth the number of Israeli hostages and IDF troops who died in the meantime, not to mention the far greater number of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians, is another question.A body blow to IranIts hard to overstate the level of damage sustained over the course of the war by the so-called Axis of Resistance the network of anti-Israel and anti-American proxies backed by Tehran throughout the Middle East. In Lebanon, Israel has decimated the ranks of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed proxy group with whom it fought a previous war in 2006, including through an audacious operation in which dozens of Hezbollah members were killed by exploding pagers that had been rigged by Israeli intelligence. Israel has also demonstrated an ability to reach directly into Iran itself. In July, it killed Hamass political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, with an explosive placed inside a fortified guest house in Tehran. An Israeli jet and drone attack struck Irans missile defense system and missile production facilities in October, demonstrating an ability to overpower the countrys air defenses. Israels own air defenses, by contrast, almost completely neutralized an Iranian missile barrage targeting the country last October (thanks in part to help from the US and other allies).Israels final blow to Irans regional interests was likely unintentional, but just as consequential. The regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, an important regional partner for Iran, collapsed in December after a surprise rebel assault that brought an abrupt end to a 13-year civil war, in large part because Assads Hezbollah and Iranian allies were no longer able to help. One exception to this largely pro-Israel trend is Yemens Houthi rebels, who out of avowed solidarity with Gaza have been able to sustain a campaign of attacks on global shipping through the Red Sea that has literally reshaped the global economy. The Houthis have said they will now only attack Israel-linked ships, but their record at distinguishing those has been mixed at best. And while the Houthis are undoubtedly reliant on Iranian support, they are also more independent from Tehrans dictates than other members of the Axis. There will be another reconstitution [of the Axis], predicts Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East program at the UK think tank Chatham House. But it might be that, for the time being, Iran will focus domestically because it has been weakened, and it will encourage the Axis groups to do the same.Lets make a deal(s)The Axis was supposed to be Irans means of projecting power in the region and deterring its rivals from attacks, but its greatest test has proven it to be something of a paper tiger. Paradoxically, that might eventually serve to enhance the threat Iran poses there has been some speculation that Tehran may now rush to develop a nuclear weapon to reestablish a deterrent. Still, the experience of the last few months must have given Iranian leaders pause about whether they can do so without Israel immediately noticing, or resist Israeli (and possible US) attacks in response. On the other hand, a reeling Iran might also be more open to diplomacy with the United States, even though President Donald Trump famously pulled out of the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal during his first term, authorized the killing of Irans most senior general, and was himself the target of an alleged Iranian assassination plot. Thanks to a helicopter crash last spring which killed Irans hardline President Ebrahim Raisi, the Islamic Republic is currently governed by a relative moderate, Masoud Pezeshkian, who might be more inclined to seek a deal in order to win some sanctions relief for his countrys beleaguered economy. Thats not the only megadeal potentially in the offing. Just prior to October 7, the Biden administration was working to achieve a diplomatic normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel. It was a continuation of the Trump-era Abraham Accords but because of the Saudis economic and religious clout, the hoped-for deal would have been a much more important step toward resolving decades of enmity between Israel and its Arab neighbors and the wider Islamic world. The war, and the furious Arab public reaction to it, put a halt to the process. The Saudis only became more insistent that normalization had to be linked to meaningful progress toward establishing a Palestinian state, at the very moment when Israels war in Gaza made such progress seem impossible. That didnt stop the Biden administration from repeatedly trying to use the prospect of Saudi normalization as a carrot to get Israel to end the war. Influential voices like the New York Times Thomas Friedman warned that Israel was sacrificing Riyadh relations with an important regional and global power for Rafah, the Gaza city that Israel controversially attacked last February. In the end, though, Israel may still get both Rafah and Riyadh. Despite having accused Israel of genocide, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman still seems to be interested in a deal, albeit not one perceived as a total sellout of the Palestinians. Whether Salman would have a partner for such a deal is another question. Netanyahu, and more importantly his right-wing governing partners, would probably reject even the nominal moves toward a two-state solution that would make an agreement possible. Any moves by Israel to formally annex parts of the West Bank which some influential voices in Israel are calling for could put it completely out of reach. And while Trump, for his part, would clearly love to complete the Abraham Accords, there are doubts he would be willing to put the pressure on Israel that may be necessary to accomplish it. While Trump may have been willing to play hardball with Netanyahu to get a deal done before he took office, any hopes among critics of Israel that he would be tougher than Biden going forward were dashed on Tuesday when, amid a flurry of first-day executive actions, Trump lifted sanctions imposed by Biden on Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Those sanctions were arguably the toughest action the Biden team had taken to constrain Israel over the past four years, though their actual impact on the ground was debatable: 2024 saw a record number of acts of violence by settlers against Palestinians on the West Bank as well as some of the largest seizures of land by the Israel government. In the coming days, Trump is widely expected to lift the Biden administrations hold on the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel. Some of his diplomatic nominations, including ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and ambassador to the United Nations Elise Stefanik, have views on Israeli-Palestinian issues that could be considered far-right even in an Israeli context. (Stefanik affirmed during her confirmation hearing that she believes Israel has a biblical right to control the West Bank.)Perhaps it shouldnt be surprising that Netanyahu, a lifelong student of American politics, appears to have played Washington perfectly, managing to prosecute the war with few meaningful restrictions from a Democratic administration and ending it just in time for his preferred Republican to return to office. Israel fought international law and Israel wonIsraels conduct of the war and the high civilian death toll have been met with global protest and outrage as well as some legal action. NGOs including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. South Africa has brought a case accusing Israel of genocide to the International Court of Justice, which the court is still considering.The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. In theory, this means that Netanyahu could face arrest if he travels to any of the 124 countries that are members of the court the kind of fate usually reserved for dictators like Muammar al-Qaddafi or Sudans former president Omar al-Bashir.But that doesnt mean were likely to see Netanyahu in the docket at the Hague. The government of Poland is a party to the ICC, but it recently announced that it would guarantee safe passage for Netanyahu to attend the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. Thats perhaps an early sign that most Western countries will be very reluctant to arrest the prime minister of Israel on their soil. The US isnt a party to the ICC, though it has cooperated with the court on several occasions, including the war in Ukraine, and the Biden administration opposed the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant. The Trump administration has already taken steps to reimpose sanctions on the court. Ultimately, it may turn out to be the ICC, rather than Netanyahu, that sustains more damage from this attempted prosecution. Novik, the former government adviser who is now a fellow at the Israel Policy Forum, said that the international protests and legal actions have had little impact on either Israels domestic politics or the governments decision-making. As a result of the fact that Israelis have not been really exposed to the images [of destruction in Gaza] in the media here, there is a tendency in the country to frame international reaction as antisemitism, rather than driven by resentment of the actual suffering of Palestinians, he said. Too early to saySo, did Israel win the war that began after October 7? In the short term, its hard to say no. Even if Hamas has not been eliminated, Israel has been able to inflict far more damage on its enemies in both Gaza and the wider region, and ended the fighting with far fewer concessions, than many would have thought possible when the conflict began. In the long term, though, that victory is less clear cut. For one thing, the war may not actually be over. Netanyahu has called the ceasefire temporary and said Israel reserves the right to continue fighting. The deal might never reach phase 2, when a permanent cessation of hostilities is supposed to begin, leaving the bombs to fall again. There are still more than 90 hostages left in Gaza, and not all of them may be released. (Some may no longer be alive.) At an event hosted by the lobbying group J Street last week, Ilan Goldenberg, who until last summer served as a senior Middle East adviser on Bidens national security council, said that the most likely scenario is the parties kind of paper over the arrangements in post-conflict Gaza to a point where enough aid is going in and Hamas sustains the deal and the hostages come out. While certainly better than the situation over the last 15 months, Goldenberg said this would mean we still have Hamas in Gaza in some form or another, we still have a lot of Palestinian suffering, and we still dont have a meaningful way forward. For now, Israel appears to have defied critics who predicted that the war in Gaza would turn into yet another costly and drawn-out quagmire. But quagmires often have promising beginnings. Goldenberg described Israels triumph over its enemies in this war as not all that dissimilar to where we [the US] were in Iraq in 2003 and 2004, he said. You go in and you destroy things and you take out the bad guys, but you cant beat something with nothing theres going to be perpetual insurgency there, or perpetual Hamas control, unless you have just a whole fundamental shift in attitude by the Israeli government. Israeli leaders referred to their rounds of fighting with Hamas in previous years as mowing the grass: destroying and degrading the groups capabilities and ability to attack Israel, without eliminating it completely. What Israel has done over the past 15 months to both Hamas and Irans proxies is something more than that, but theres still reason to believe the grass will grow back. 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During 2024s presidential election, the crypto industry gave generously to Donald Trump, lobbying hard for him to win. Now that their guy is in the White House, theyre hoping he will deliver on his promise to make America the world capital of cryptocurrency. If the events of this week are any indication, it would appear that hes doing his best to make good on that promise. On Thursday, Trump signed yet another executive order that, while vague on the details, lays the groundwork for a crypto strategic reservesomething that crypto bros have long been asking for. The order establishes a federal working group that will be devoted to investigating the creation of a strategic national digital assets stockpile. Such a stockpile would mimic Americas gold bullion reserve, the idea being that it could accrue in value over time and provide a source of ongoing wealth to the government. The order also establishes that the working group will be chaired by the White House AI & Crypto Czar and include the Secretary of the Treasury, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the heads of other relevant departments and agencies. Currently, Americas crypto czar is David Sacks, a tech billionaire who is friends with Elon Musk and who, according to a certain contingent, is one of the biggest assholes in Silicon Valley. Sacks is notably pro-crypto, as is Trumps nomination for the Chairman of the SEC, Paul Atkins. Trumps nomination for Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, has been slightly more agnostic so far. At the same time, the working group will be devoted to developing a Federal regulatory framework governing digital assets. If the crypto industrys preferences are to be respected, it stands to reason that this regulatory framework will not involve much regulation at all. President Trump will help make the United States the center of digital financial technology innovation by halting aggressive enforcement actions and regulatory overreach that have stifled crypto innovation under previous administrations, the executive order continues, vaguely. President Trumps policy vision marks an unprecedented step towards welcoming in a new era for digital financial technology; one in which President Trumps administration will work towards ensuring innovation thrives, regulatory frameworks are clear, and economic liberty is protected.Bidens administration notably introduced a wealth of regulations to deal with the ongoing financial instability and rampant scams plaguing the cryptocurrency industry. Trump now seeks to undo whatever regulatory efforts Biden enacted, as the EO revokes a number of those rules.The growth of digital financial technology in America must remain unhindered by restrictive regulations or unnecessary government interference, the order says.

Please. I'm begging you. Don't bring this to an airport. As someone who is constantly randomly selected for additional screenings at Newark Airport and whose bags are often publicly inspected by TSA agents, the notion of traveling with a portable SSD that looks like an explosive makes my head spin. According to a quick Google translation of an image on this Lenovo Chinese crowdfunding page, the Savior Tactical Mobile SSD is an authorized hardcore aluminum alloy grenade portable storage device. Why a hand grenade? Based on the logos, it seems like a tie-in promotional product forOperation Hadal, an upcoming Chinese war movie. The trailer looks like your standard military action flick with dramatic closeups of brooding military men, submarines, and plenty of explosions. However, I did not see any USB Type-C hand grenades featured in the trailer. The Savior Tactical Mobile SSD will cost 599 yuan (around $80). The specs arent detailed, though; Toms Hardware speculates that Lenovo may be using its existing Legion (which is called Savior in China) portable SSD as the base for the novelty SSD, which features 1TB of storage and data transfers up to 1,050MB/S.The official crowdfunding page says the project is already 105% funded and has plenty of time left. This means itll likely become a product you could see someone whip out at a cafe. Since this product is based on a movie that likely wont be released in North America, chances are that the Savior Tactical Mobile SSD wont make its way to the States, but Im sure youll be able to track one down if you look hard enough if and when it launches. Airport security already gets pretty annoyed when you try to check a bag with a laptop in it, and theres good reason for that; I can only imagine the commotion youd set off if you sent this SSD through the X-ray machine. Listen, I get it. Some people enjoy the tacticool aesthetic, but lets leave it at camo prints, for everyones sake.Lenovo

La Natura Villas / Plinthos Architects + Stefania Ntinou ArchitectSave this picture! Nikos KarampinisNaxos, GreeceArchitects: Plinthos Architects, Stefania Ntinou ArchitectAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:230 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Nikos KarampinisMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. La Natura Villas is an exclusive holiday home complex meticulously designed to harmonize with the natural landscape of the Cyclades. Nestled into the hillside of Naxos, the project takes full advantage of its elevated location, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the Aegean Sea and the rugged Naxian landscape. The architectural concept draws inspiration from the area's raw beauty and traditional Cycladic architecture, with the design elegantly merging modern living with the region's natural rock formations.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The complex consists of two beautifully crafted vacation homes, each embodying a sophisticated fusion of eclectic interior design and a vibrant outdoor lifestyle. Access to each home is thoughtfully arranged via private roads, ensuring a sense of privacy for guests. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by landscaped staircases leading to expansive outdoor areas that reveal stunning sea views and tranquil pool terraces. Inside, the homes flow effortlessly from the communal living spaces to the more intimate bedrooms, separated by two exceptional atriums that provide striking visual connections to the outdoors and different vistas of the island.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Outdoor living is a key focus of the La Natura Villas experience. The homes feature carefully placed amenities, including shaded seating areas, BBQ zones, alfresco dining spots, and infinity pools, all designed to enhance the summer lifestyle. The interior design complements the architecture by combining classic and modern elements, creating a peaceful atmosphere with plaster walls, concrete floors, and a curated mix of furniture pieces. Together, these features create a dynamic and enchanting retreat, blending the charm of Cycladic tradition with contemporary luxury.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePlinthos ArchitectsOfficeMaterialConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on January 24, 2025Cite: "La Natura Villas / Plinthos Architects + Stefania Ntinou Architect" 24 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025891/la-natura-villas-plinthos-architects-plus-stefania-ntinou-architect&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

A set of leggings with a matching Minnie Mouse shirt, freeze-dried blueberries, a face cream; These seemingly unrelated items shared one toxic trait they were recalled because they contained a dangerously high level of lead.The Minnie Mouse outfit, for example, used lead paint to print the smiling character onto the shirt and matching daisies onto the pants. Almost 90,000 units were sold, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Although government bans have reduced lead exposure, the heavy metal can still be found in consumer goods as well as water pipes and paint in older houses. Scientists have found that lead poisoning can be detrimental to physical and mental health. Studies have also found its a persisting problem in many U.S. cities.What Is Lead Poisoning?Lead poisoning happens when a person has been exposed to the toxin and develops a buildup in their body. Both adults and children can experience lead poisoning, but kids are especially at risk because their growing bones are softer and more malleable.Children are more susceptible to lead poisoning because they absorb lead to a higher degree than their adult counterparts, says Glenn Goodwin, a physician and the research director at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center in Miami.Lead poisoning can negatively affect all organs. The organ that is the most at the forefront is the brain, Goodwin says. [Lead is] evident in lowering IQs and causing personality changes.In a 2021 research review in Toxics, researchers examined epidemiological studies on how lead impacted people during various life stages. Children ages two to four years old with high lead levels had decreased motor skills and language development. They also displayed depression, aggression, and sleep problems.Another study in the review found that children ages six to twelve with high lead levels showed slow cognitive functioning and delayed reactions. They also had a flat affect, meaning they lacked facial expressions and voice intonations.Older adults were also affected. In one study, people ages 50 to 60 with lead poisoning had memory issues and difficulty learning new information. They struggled with problem-solving and executive functioning.Health and Mental Health IssuesMore than half of Americans have been exposed to high levels of lead, and studies have found it has taken a toll on their mental health.A 2024 study in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that lead exposure likely caused a significant burden in mental illness in the U.S.The researchers looked at data from 1940 to 2015 and analyzed blood lead levels for children during this time. They found that exposure to lead increased symptoms of anxiety, depression, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). They concluded that 151 million excess mental health disorders can be traced to lead exposure during early childhood development.Similarly, a 2019 study in JAMA Psychiatry followed 579 New Zealand children over three decades and found that children exposed to lead were more likely to grow up to have anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, or substance abuse issues. They were also more likely to have difficult personality traits like being argumentative or neurotic.Lead poisoning can also lead to a variety of physical issues, including stomach pain, nausea, headaches, and fatigue. Adults can also experience high blood pressure, kidney issues, anemia, and issues with their muscle coordination.In a 2021 study in the Journal of Urban Health, researchers surveyed adult residents of Flint, Michigan, where the water was known to have been tainted with lead. The respondents reported having physical symptoms like skin rashes and hair loss. Those who experienced physical symptoms were also more likely to report having psychological trauma, including depression and anxiety.Lifelong ExposureHow have so many people been exposed to toxic levels of lead? There were several common ways people were exposed during these decades, including lead in gasoline, consumer products, and water lines.Leaded gasoline was the standard in cars until unleaded was introduced in the 1970s. Cars began to transition to unleaded gasoline, but it was common for gas station attendants to ask, leaded or unleaded? well through the 1980s, until engines that ran on leaded gasoline were phased out.Consumer products like household paint and cans used for food storage also contained lead until a Federal ban in 1971. Although bans helped reduce how people could be exposed to lead, many Americans are still exposed to lead daily.The Environmental Protection Agency finds there are 9.2 million lead service lines, which is about 10 percent of the nations water service lines. States like Florida and Illinois have the highest percentage, while Alaska has the least.In a 2024 study in Cureus, a team of researchers examined the water pipe infrastructure in Chicago and found that 400,000 lead service lines were still in use and that 95 percent of these problematic pipes were in low-income neighborhoods.The study identified Chicago politics as the primary reason why the city has so many lead service lines. In the 1950s, the mayor passed a city code that mandated using lead pipes. Pipe installation involved work by a licensed plumber, which endeared the mayor to a large, powerful union.You have the citys history and the behind-the-scenes deals with unions. All this corruption is having medical ramifications, says Goodwin, the studys lead author.And its a medical ramification that Goodwin says many physicians are not trained to anticipate.Im an ER doctor, and were taught about all these poisons, Goodwin says. With lead poisoning, its taught that its not really a thing anymore unless youre in Flint. But as I came across in this paper its a huge problem.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Bentex Recalls Childrens Clothing Sets Due to Violation of the Federal Lead Paint and Lead Content Ban; Lead Poisoning HazardU.S. Energy Information Administration. Gasoline explained Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Half of US population exposed to adverse lead levels in early childhoodJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. Contribution of childhood lead exposure to psychopathology in the US population over the past 75 yearsOregon Health Authority. Lead Poisoning: Signs and SymptomsEmilie Lucchesi has written for some of the country's largest newspapers, including The New York Times, Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and an MA from DePaul University. She also holds a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Illinois-Chicago with an emphasis on media framing, message construction and stigma communication. Emilie has authored three nonfiction books. Her third, A Light in the Dark: Surviving More Than Ted Bundy, releases October 3, 2023, from Chicago Review Press and is co-authored with survivor Kathy Kleiner Rubin.

Jill Pryor, a biologist with the New York Marine Rescue Center, in Riverhead carries one of two rescued loggerhead sea turtles that were flown in from the New England Aquarium in Massachusetts on January 22, 2021. The stranded loggerheads are recuperating after being cold-stunned. John Paraskevas/Newsday RM via Getty ImagesShareThe typically toasty Sun Belt has been anything but warm this week, as some unusual weather is gripping the southern United States. The New Orleans area saw up to 10 inches of snow, alligators are freezingbut staying alivein lakes in Southeast Texas, and turtle patrols in Florida are rescuing cold-stunned turtles.Three endangered green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) found in Pensacola Beach, Florida are heading to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach. A member of the Escambia Turtle Patrol found a turtle named Arugla on Wednesday, January 22. By Thursday, volunteers with Gulf Coast Turtle Watch reported two more juvenile green turtles walking along the shore. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.When the Sound water drops below 50 these turtles start to struggle and become lethargic, causing them to freeze to death. They will then just float into shore, Gulf Coast Turtle Watch wrote on Facebook. Our current Soundside water was reading this morning at 47. All turtles have been safely, responded to and transported to the Gulfarium in Fort Walton Beach by our permitted volunteers.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission also reported that two of its officers rescued 30 sea turtles on Thursday and urged anyone who sees a distressed turtle to call 888-404-FWCC (3922).According to NOAA, cold-stunning is a condition where sea turtles become very weak or inactive after being exposed to cold temperatures. A similar phenomenon is seen in iguanas. These terrestrial reptiles can fall from trees after being cold-stunned during cold snaps.Since sea turtles and iguanas are reptiles, they are not able to strictly regulate their body temperature the way that birds and mammals can. The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) does have a few physiological adaptations that come closest to this kind of thermoregulation. For other turtle species, body temperature is closely related to their environment, so they will seek out warmer waters during the winter. Turtles will typically swim away from shore to deep water or head south.Recently, cold-stunning events have happened in several locations, including Cape Cod Bay in Massachusetts, Long Island Sound in New York, Pamlico Sound in North Carolina, and various bays in Texas.When cold-stunned, turtles will become lethargic and eventually are unable to swim. They then float at the surface and wind and/or tides can wash them ashore. If it stays cold enough and the turtles are not rescued, they can develop secondary health problemsincluding fungal and bacterial infectionsand die.Cold-stunned sea turtles will often need help from humans in order to recover. They may briefly stay in captivity until waters warm or be brought to a warmer location for release. In some cases, severely affected turtles can require veterinary care and rehabilitation before they can be released back into the wild. In November 2024, a team from the New Orleans Audubon Aquarium released a formerly cold-stunned critically endangered Kemps ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) named Cilantro into the Gulf of Mexico after nearly two years of rehabilitation.Anyone who sees a turtle in distress is encouraged to contact their local NOAA stranding network so that trained responders can help.