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This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Gemini Robotics uses Googles top language model to make robots more useful The news: Google DeepMind has released a new model, Gemini Robotics, that combines its best large language model with robotics. Plugging in the LLM seems to give robots the ability to be more dexterous, work from natural-language commands, and generalize across tasks. All three are things that robots have struggled to do until now.Why it matters: The team hopes their work could usher in an era of robots that are far more useful and require less detailed training for each task. Incorporating LLMs into robotics is part of a growing trend, and this may be the most impressive example yet. Read the full story. Scott J Mulligan If youre interested in how researchers are making robots more useful, why not take a look at these stories: + The robot race is fueling a fight for training data. AI is upending the way robots learn, leaving companies and researchers with a need for more data. Read the full story. + Its becoming easier to train robots with sound, which helps them adapt to tasks and environments where visibility is limited. Read the full story. + To be more useful, robots need to become lazier. Smarter data processing could make machines more helpful and energy-efficient in the real world. A good way to test this principle is to make robots play soccer.+ Gen AI models arent just good for creating picturesthey can be fine-tuned to generate useful robot training data, too. Read the full story.MIT Technology Review Narrated: How the Ukraine-Russia war is reshaping the tech sector in Eastern Europe Startups in Latvia and other nearby countries see the mobilization of Ukraine as a warning and as inspiration. They are now changing consumer productsfrom scooters to recreational dronesfor use on the battlefield. This is our latest story to be turned into a MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, which were publishing each week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform, and follow us to get all our new content as its released.The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 The European Union is pushing back against Donald Trumps tariffs By slapping the US with its own levies. (WP $)+ Its measure could affect up to 26bn of American-made goods. (FT $)2 What does waste mean to Elon Musk?The Atlantic $) + Musk seems to be testing the limits of Trumps patience. (FT $)+ Hes admitted hes struggling to balance his DOGE commitments with his work. (Insider $)+ Can AI help DOGE slash government budgets? Its complex. (MIT Technology Review)3 Big Tech is calling for new nuclear power stations With the notable exception of Microsoft. (FT $)+ Interest in nuclear power is surging. Is it enough to build new reactors? (MIT Technology Review)4 BYD is rapidly gaining on Tesla Its undercutting the EV maker in 10 major non-Western markets. (Rest of World) + Mercedes-Benz is turning its attention to solid-state batteries. (IEEE Spectrum)+ Where it all went wrong for Europes EV battery darling. (Bloomberg $)+ BYD is one of MIT Technology Reviews 15 climate tech companies to watch. (MIT Technology Review) 5 Intels future is hanging in the balance Shares are down, jobs are being cut, and competition is heating up. (The Guardian)6 North Korean hackers snuck spyware onto the Google Play app storeTechCrunch) 7 Things arent looking good for iRobotThe Verge) + The company is undergoing a strategic review to see if it can be salvaged. (Bloomberg $)+ A Roomba recorded a woman on the toilet. How did screenshots end up on Facebook? (MIT Technology Review)8 Spotify has removed Andrew Tates misogynistic courses404 Media) 9 An arbitrator has instructed a former Meta employee to stop promoting her new book The new memoir details alleged claims of misconduct at the company. (The Verge)10 How to decide where to hunt for alien lifeTop tip: search for the cosmic shoreline. (Quanta Magazine)Quote of the day The President is basically a car salesman now. Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky accuses Donald Trump of acting like a showroom salesman after he urged Americans to buy Tesla electric cars, MSNBC reports. The big story What the future holds for those born today August 2024 Happy birthday, baby.You have been born into an era of intelligent machines. They have watched over you almost since your conception. They let your parents listen in on your tiny heartbeat, track your gestation on an app, and post your sonogram on social media. Well before you were born, you were known to the algorithm.Your arrival coincided with the 125th anniversary of this magazine. With a bit of luck and the right genes, you might see the next 125 years. How will you and the next generation of machines grow up together? We asked more than a dozen experts to imagine your future. Read what they prophesied.Kara Platoni We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.) + These indigenous heavy metal bands are tackling climate change, one devastating riff at a time.+ Eating asparagus raw is a thing, apparently.+ How our cultures monsters have evolved over time, and what they tell us about ourselves.+ There are few animals more fascinating than the Greenland shark.

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Global architecture practice BIG has envisioned Bhutan's new international airport with a diagrid structure adorned with painted carvings, blending Bhutans traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation.Dubbed Gelephu International Airport, the 68,000-square-metre terminal will be strategically built near the Bhutan-Indian border and the Paitha River, surrounded by Bhutans lush subtropical forests, mountains, and rivers.Set to open in 2029, once complete, it will be Bhutans second international airport.Concept AerialThe design will also be displayed at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, Ancient Future in May and exhibited until September.With its modular diagrid structure composed of glulam timber and painted carvings, Gelephu International Airport is intended for both mindful travel and potential expansion.The airport is a key component of the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) project created by BIG, Arup, and Cistri and was developed in partnership with the aviation engineering firm NACO.Airport Departure Lounge White CeilingThe airport can accommodate 123 aircraft per day and is expected to handle 1.3 million passengers annually by 2040, rising to 5.5 million by 2065.BIG stated that a timber diamond piece that reflects the airport's faade will form part of an installation at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2025. The display, which is half machine-made and half created by a Bhutanese artist, celebrates the country's history of wood carving while examining how technology may help to preserve and develop the art form.Apron View"An airport is the first and last impression you get of a place you visit. For the Gelephu International Airport, we have tried to embody the nature and culture of the country and the Mindfulness City," said Bjarke Ingels, Founder & Creative Director, BIG."The forests that cover the highlands are allowed to flow from the arrival plaza through the airport all the way to the tarmac. Tropical trees provide shade for travelers, and the forest courtyard lines the main functions of immigration, security, and luggage," he continued. Arrival Corridor White Ceiling"The airport architecture is composed of modular mass timber frames providing flexibility and expandability, resembling a stylized mountain range at a distance. Upon closer inspection, all the mass timber members are carved and colored according to traditional craft, adorned with three types of dragons representing the past, present, and future of Bhutan. The result is traditional yet avant-garde, forward-reaching and rooted.""For me personally, this unusual embrace of traditional craft and color is a true testament to how affected I have been by my encounter with Bhutan - the country, its culture, and its people," Ingels added.Arrival Corridor Render White CeilingThe airport's diagrid construction, which is surrounded by the Himalayas, is made of ethically and locally sourced wood and is embellished with traditional Bhutanese wood carvings created by regional artists.The Kachen, a wooden pillar valued for its elaborate design and structural significance that embodies Bhutanese architectural heritage and spiritual connotation, serves as the inspiration for the painted faade.Arrival Hall View White CeilingThe airport's structurally independent timber frameworks, which are intended to support GMC's anticipated growth, enable easy extension and disassembly. In keeping with Bhutan's goal of becoming a carbon-negative country, the airport's roof is equipped with photovoltaic panels.The arrival plaza, which blends harmoniously with the surrounding natural topography, is divided into four zones, each of which is devoted to a particular plant found in Gelephu's forests. A gathering area has seating areas and paving composed of natural stone from the area, and it is protected from the weather by a canopy and lots of plants.Check In White CeilingThe airport and its internal courtyard are connected to Bhutan's wildlife corridors. The courtyard, which separates the terminal into two sectionsdomestic flights on the west side and international flights on the eastis aptly termed the Forest Spine.With its peaceful green areas, treetop walkway, and native wildlife, the Forest Spine, which is visually accessible from anywhere in the airport, gives visitors a sense of being in nature even while they are there.Checkin Staff Facilities White CeilingBhutanese culture is celebrated in every part of the Gelephu International Airport, which features local skills like as Tshar-Zo (traditional weaving techniques), Par-Zo (carving), Lha-Zo (painting), and Shing-Zo (carpentry). The faade and interior are covered in traditional Bhutanese sculptures.With a majestic triple-height lobby, large floor-to-ceiling windows, and skylights, the airport is flooded with natural light and was designed to bring awareness to the frequently stressful experience of traveling. In keeping with Bhutan's ideals of happiness and mental health, indoor and outdoor lounges offer peaceful areas for yoga, gong baths, and meditation for visitors to unwind and revitalize.Commercial view White CeilingThe layout of Gelephu International Airport is influenced by both operational effectiveness and passenger experience. A seamless trip from arrival to gate is ensured by intuitive wayfinding through well-considered circulation patterns and clear visual cues.Large views of the apron and the breathtaking Himalayan scenery may be seen from the gates, retail spaces, and food and beverage places located on the top level.The airport uses passive, climate-responsive principles seen in traditional Bhutanese architecture to adapt to the subtropical climate of Southern Bhutan.Emigration view White CeilingWhile ventilated roofs and courtyards provide natural airflow, the building's wooden construction absorbs moisture from the air to assist control inside humidity.Extended eaves outside offer protection from intense rain and shade.With conveniently accessible trackless trams and buses that connect to the rest of the nation and Gelephu's rebuilt town center, the airport will also serve as Bhutan's first in-land mobility hub, encouraging the usage of public transportation.Entrance Night White Ceiling"For the Gelephu International Airport, we wanted to create an experience that feels deeply Bhutanese - calm, welcoming, and connected to nature," said Frederik Lyng, Partner, BIG."The airport will provide an outstanding passenger experience, where generous daylit spaces, elements of the Bhutanese landscape, and the intricate carvings of the Bhutanese craftsmen go hand in hand to gently guide the passenger through the terminal.""The design not only honors Bhutans rich culture but also sets a new standard for mindful, adaptable architecture that will grow with the countrys future while being rooted in its past," Lyng added.Entrance Plaza White CeilingThe aim of the Gelephu International Airport, which is rooted in Bhutanese culture, is to become a global entry point into GMC that respects the past while looking to the future, fostering a friendly environment that embodies GMC's values throughout the entire voyage.Forest Spine by BIGGreen Mindfulness Lounge White CeilingMindfullness Relaxation Lounge White CeilingStaff Facilities apron view White CeilingStaff Logistics Entrance by BIGTreetops Bridge by BIGDiagram, Forest TerminalDiagram, Forest Terminal 3Diagram, Forest Terminal 4Diagram Section 1Diagram Section 2BIG recently completed its new headquarters around a single column and a large staircase on the Copenhagen harbor in Denmark. In addition, the firm unveiled design to transform a former supermarket building into the new Museum for Paper Art in the North Jutland region of Denmark. Moreover, the firm unveiled design for a group of holiday villas on Japans Sagi Island called NOT A HOTEL Setouchi.Project factsName:Gelephu International AirportSize:731,946 sq ft / 68,000 m2Location:Gelephu, The Kingdom of BhutanClient:The Kingdom of BhutanCollaborators:Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO), Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited (MQDC), Changi Airport Planners and Engineers, Influit, WT PartnershipProject teamPartner in Charge: Bjarke Ingels, Frederik Lyng, Giulia FrittoliProject Manager:Per Bo MadsenDesign Lead:Sorcha Burke, Dace GureckaTeam: Andrea Megan Hektor, Chiara Gargiulo, Dalma Ujvari, Jan Magasanik, Mantas Povilaika, Nanna Gyldholm Mller, Nathan Angelo Osena, Nikol Maraj, Will Chuanrui Yu, Dace Gurecka, Xinyu Zhao, Matthew Goodwill.All renderings & drawings are courtesy of BIG.> via BIG

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Global architecture practice BIG has envisioned Bhutan's new international airport with a diagrid structure adorned with painted carvings, blending Bhutans traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation.Dubbed Gelephu International Airport, the 68,000-square-metre terminal will be strategically built near the Bhutan-Indian border and the Paitha River, surrounded by Bhutans lush subtropical forests, mountains, and rivers.Set to open in 2029, once complete, it will be Bhutans second international airport.Concept AerialThe design will also be displayed at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, Ancient Future in May and exhibited until September.With its modular diagrid structure composed of glulam timber and painted carvings, Gelephu International Airport is intended for both mindful travel and potential expansion.The airport is a key component of the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) project created by BIG, Arup, and Cistri and was developed in partnership with the aviation engineering firm NACO.Airport Departure Lounge White CeilingThe airport can accommodate 123 aircraft per day and is expected to handle 1.3 million passengers annually by 2040, rising to 5.5 million by 2065.BIG stated that a timber diamond piece that reflects the airport's faade will form part of an installation at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2025. The display, which is half machine-made and half created by a Bhutanese artist, celebrates the country's history of wood carving while examining how technology may help to preserve and develop the art form.Apron View"An airport is the first and last impression you get of a place you visit. For the Gelephu International Airport, we have tried to embody the nature and culture of the country and the Mindfulness City," said Bjarke Ingels, Founder & Creative Director, BIG."The forests that cover the highlands are allowed to flow from the arrival plaza through the airport all the way to the tarmac. Tropical trees provide shade for travelers, and the forest courtyard lines the main functions of immigration, security, and luggage," he continued. Arrival Corridor White Ceiling"The airport architecture is composed of modular mass timber frames providing flexibility and expandability, resembling a stylized mountain range at a distance. Upon closer inspection, all the mass timber members are carved and colored according to traditional craft, adorned with three types of dragons representing the past, present, and future of Bhutan. The result is traditional yet avant-garde, forward-reaching and rooted.""For me personally, this unusual embrace of traditional craft and color is a true testament to how affected I have been by my encounter with Bhutan - the country, its culture, and its people," Ingels added.Arrival Corridor Render White CeilingThe airport's diagrid construction, which is surrounded by the Himalayas, is made of ethically and locally sourced wood and is embellished with traditional Bhutanese wood carvings created by regional artists.The Kachen, a wooden pillar valued for its elaborate design and structural significance that embodies Bhutanese architectural heritage and spiritual connotation, serves as the inspiration for the painted faade.Arrival Hall View White CeilingThe airport's structurally independent timber frameworks, which are intended to support GMC's anticipated growth, enable easy extension and disassembly. In keeping with Bhutan's goal of becoming a carbon-negative country, the airport's roof is equipped with photovoltaic panels.The arrival plaza, which blends harmoniously with the surrounding natural topography, is divided into four zones, each of which is devoted to a particular plant found in Gelephu's forests. A gathering area has seating areas and paving composed of natural stone from the area, and it is protected from the weather by a canopy and lots of plants.Check In White CeilingThe airport and its internal courtyard are connected to Bhutan's wildlife corridors. The courtyard, which separates the terminal into two sectionsdomestic flights on the west side and international flights on the eastis aptly termed the Forest Spine.With its peaceful green areas, treetop walkway, and native wildlife, the Forest Spine, which is visually accessible from anywhere in the airport, gives visitors a sense of being in nature even while they are there.Checkin Staff Facilities White CeilingBhutanese culture is celebrated in every part of the Gelephu International Airport, which features local skills like as Tshar-Zo (traditional weaving techniques), Par-Zo (carving), Lha-Zo (painting), and Shing-Zo (carpentry). The faade and interior are covered in traditional Bhutanese sculptures.With a majestic triple-height lobby, large floor-to-ceiling windows, and skylights, the airport is flooded with natural light and was designed to bring awareness to the frequently stressful experience of traveling. In keeping with Bhutan's ideals of happiness and mental health, indoor and outdoor lounges offer peaceful areas for yoga, gong baths, and meditation for visitors to unwind and revitalize.Commercial view White CeilingThe layout of Gelephu International Airport is influenced by both operational effectiveness and passenger experience. A seamless trip from arrival to gate is ensured by intuitive wayfinding through well-considered circulation patterns and clear visual cues.Large views of the apron and the breathtaking Himalayan scenery may be seen from the gates, retail spaces, and food and beverage places located on the top level.The airport uses passive, climate-responsive principles seen in traditional Bhutanese architecture to adapt to the subtropical climate of Southern Bhutan.Emigration view White CeilingWhile ventilated roofs and courtyards provide natural airflow, the building's wooden construction absorbs moisture from the air to assist control inside humidity.Extended eaves outside offer protection from intense rain and shade.With conveniently accessible trackless trams and buses that connect to the rest of the nation and Gelephu's rebuilt town center, the airport will also serve as Bhutan's first in-land mobility hub, encouraging the usage of public transportation.Entrance Night White Ceiling"For the Gelephu International Airport, we wanted to create an experience that feels deeply Bhutanese - calm, welcoming, and connected to nature," said Frederik Lyng, Partner, BIG."The airport will provide an outstanding passenger experience, where generous daylit spaces, elements of the Bhutanese landscape, and the intricate carvings of the Bhutanese craftsmen go hand in hand to gently guide the passenger through the terminal.""The design not only honors Bhutans rich culture but also sets a new standard for mindful, adaptable architecture that will grow with the countrys future while being rooted in its past," Lyng added.Entrance Plaza White CeilingThe aim of the Gelephu International Airport, which is rooted in Bhutanese culture, is to become a global entry point into GMC that respects the past while looking to the future, fostering a friendly environment that embodies GMC's values throughout the entire voyage.Forest Spine by BIGGreen Mindfulness Lounge White CeilingMindfullness Relaxation Lounge White CeilingStaff Facilities apron view White CeilingStaff Logistics Entrance by BIGTreetops Bridge by BIGDiagram, Forest TerminalDiagram, Forest Terminal 3Diagram, Forest Terminal 4Diagram Section 1Diagram Section 2BIG recently completed its new headquarters around a single column and a large staircase on the Copenhagen harbor in Denmark. In addition, the firm unveiled design to transform a former supermarket building into the new Museum for Paper Art in the North Jutland region of Denmark. Moreover, the firm unveiled design for a group of holiday villas on Japans Sagi Island called NOT A HOTEL Setouchi.Project factsName:Gelephu International AirportSize:731,946 sq ft / 68,000 m2Location:Gelephu, The Kingdom of BhutanClient:The Kingdom of BhutanCollaborators:Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO), Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited (MQDC), Changi Airport Planners and Engineers, Influit, WT PartnershipProject teamPartner in Charge: Bjarke Ingels, Frederik Lyng, Giulia FrittoliProject Manager:Per Bo MadsenDesign Lead:Sorcha Burke, Dace GureckaTeam: Andrea Megan Hektor, Chiara Gargiulo, Dalma Ujvari, Jan Magasanik, Mantas Povilaika, Nanna Gyldholm Mller, Nathan Angelo Osena, Nikol Maraj, Will Chuanrui Yu, Dace Gurecka, Xinyu Zhao, Matthew Goodwill.All renderings & drawings are courtesy of BIG.> via BIG

Council said plans contibute towards its goal to create life sciences cluster in WhitechapelThe scheme will range from five to nine storeys1/5show captionAHMMs plans for a nine-storey life sciences scheme in Whitechapel have been narrowly approved by Tower Hamlets council.Members of the councils strategic development committee voted five in favour and four against planning officers recommendation to approve the scheme yesterday evening.Designed for ife sciences developer Lateral, the 100 to 1346 Cavell Street scheme will provide a total of 9,500sq m of floorspace including both laboratories and office space.It will require the demolition of a two-storey former clothing factory on the site which was built in 1916 and is not listed or locally listed, but considered to be a non-designated heritage asset.The sites existing building was completed in 1916Since 2022 the existing building has been mainly occupied by property guardians, people who live vacant buildings for reduced rent to ensure they are properly maintained and to deter squatters.Planning officers described AHMMs proposals for the site as a high quality design which would make significant improvements to the surrounding public realm, while contributing towards the councils objective to create a life sciences cluster in Whitechapel.The scheme would also contain affordable space and a ground floor Knowledge Centre with space for seminars, teaching and science exhibitions.

Source: Jennifer Evans / HKSFrancis Gallagher and Gary ClarkHKS has announced two senior leadership appointments in its London office as part of efforts to strengthen its presence across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The firm has named Gary Clark as managing director, UK, and Francis Gallagher as community regional director, UK.Clark, who has 35 years of experience in sustainable architecture, will oversee architectural leadership, business development, and operational management of HKSs London office, which currently employs 75 staff. His role will also include preparing the firm for the adoption of the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard (UKNZCBS) and meeting the RIBA 2030 Challenge, which sets targets for net zero whole-life carbon for new and retrofitted buildings.Gallagher, currently in his 18th year at HKS, has been appointed to expand the firms work in the health, education, and life sciences sectors across the EMEA region. He has led several of the practices projects in these sectors, including the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.Clark joins HKS from HOK, and has previouslyserved as deputy chair of the Construction Industry Councils Climate Change Committee.Discussing his appointment, Clark said: Our role as architects is to nurture life by creating beautiful and functional buildings, places and landscapes in harmony with nature and ready for an uncertain future. At HKS our goal is to regenerate the planet one project at a time.HKSs leadership has positioned the appointments as part of a broader strategy to evolve the London studio into what it describes as a design-led, regenerative and sustainable practice.The firms CEO and chairman, Dan Noble, said: Garys leadership comes at a pivotal moment for the industry, as we shift from sustainability as an ambition to regeneration as a responsibility. His expertise in high-performance, sustainable design will be instrumental in shaping our work across EMEA.

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March 13, 20253 min readBirds Are in Trouble across the U.S. But Its Not Too Late to Protect ThemIn the U.S. 42 species of birds have low and steeply declining populations that put them on the brink of disaster, scientists sayBy Meghan Bartels edited by Andrea ThompsonAn increasingly uncommon Pinyon Jay perches on the top of a Pinyon Tree in a Colorado forest. Gerald DeBoer/Getty ImagesForget the canary in a coal mine: today the danger zone is the entire U.S., and the sentinel species comprise a growing list that includes the Golden-cheeked Warbler, the Florida Scrub Jay and the Mottled Duck.These are among 42 U.S. bird species that have been placed on red alert by the conservation initiative Road to Recoveryand included in State of the Birds 2025, a new report released by a separate group of governmental and nonprofit organizations called the North American Bird Conservation Initiative. The report analyzes population trends for more than 700 bird species across the U.S. and its key habitat typesand identifies a total of 229 species that experts deem to be of high or moderate conservation concern. Bird populations are continuing to decline, and one third of species in the U.S. require urgent conservation attention, says report co-author Amanda Rodewald, an ecologist at Cornell University.This is bad news for humans, too, she emphasizes. The concerning declines in bird populations indicate to us that environments are changing in ways that can have negative outcomes for people as well, Rodewald says. We live in the same habitats as birds, so if theyre not healthy for birds, theyre not healthy for us. In addition, bird-related activities, such as purchasing bird seed for feeders or equipment for bird-watching and photography, contributed some $279 billion to the U.S. economy in 2022 alone.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.A Greater Prairie Chicken displaying in the spring.Steve Oehlenschlager/Getty ImagesRoad to Recovery had looked at population trends for each species, identifying birds on the tipping point and grouping them into three color-coded categories based on total and recent trends. For example, the Greater Prairie Chicken, an eye-catching and iconic bird that has lost much of its habitat and splintered into small groups with little genetic diversity, is listed as a red alert tipping-point species. In contrast, a yellow alert tipping-point species called the Pinyon Jay has also lost its woodland habitat because of drought and insects, among other factors, but its populations are stabilizing.The new report evaluates how birds that are reliant on particular ecosystems are faring. Those that are found only in grasslands or in arid landscapes, for example, are doing quite poorly, with populations decreasing by more than 40 percent since 1970. Among 31 species that rely on arid landscapes, none are showing population increases.Northern Pintails are a duck species listed as a yellow alert tipping-point species.BrianEKushner/Getty ImagesOne new development raises particular concern: duck species overall have seen steep declines in the past few years, potentially because of drought, Rodewald says. That is certainly sobering, she says, noting that waterfowl and waterbirds overall had always been a bright spot in similar analyses.Peter Marra, a conservation biologist at Georgetown University, who was not involved in the new report but conducted 2019 work showing that the U.S. had some three billion fewer birds than in 1970, says that the new findings offer a valuable look at which species need the most urgent response.Both Rodewald and Marra highlight shorebirds as a group to be concerned about. Species in this group rely on the delicate regions where freshwater or saltwater meets land, Marra says. Were changing the natural landscape in multiple and complex ways, and to expect these species to persist is just crazy, he says.The Evening Grosbeak is a forest bird listed as an orange alert tipping-point species.Leola Durant/Getty ImagesRodewald also notes that declines in forest-reliant birds may come as a surprise to people who see plenty of trees around them. In fact, the traits and characteristics of those forests have changed pretty dramatically in some cases, she says. Even where we have forests, theyre not always managed in a way that theyre able to provide the specific features that birds need.The findings are grim, but Rodewald notes that the report offers a more detailed view of how birds are faring than has ever been possible, thanks to its use of crowdsourced naturalist programs such as eBird. Just as those data highlight where birds are declining, they also show where birds remain, as well as where conservation programs are working. We do have more opportunity than ever to make really strategic and effective decisions with conservation, and thats because we have more information than weve ever had before, Rodewald says.Marra agrees, arguing that such reports are vital for identifying individual species that need rapidand specializedattention. We need to step in and do something with these species before they become listed as threatened or endangered, Marra says. At that point, he says, action becomes both more contentious and more expensive. But if we dont start making different choices now, well have no other option.We just cant close our eyes and hope these things are going to change, Marra says. It requires real significant change in how we run our operations on this planet, and were not doing that.

OpinionMarch 13, 20255 min readIndianas House of Representatives Once Voted Unanimously to Change the Value of PiHow an incorrect value of Pi almost got codified into lawBy Jack Murtagh edited by Jeanna BrynerLong ago, the Indiana House of Representatives voted unanimously to change the value of Pi to 3.2. Olivier Le Moal/Getty ImagesAn ancient problem known as squaring the circle stumped mathematicians for more than 2,000 years. During that time, professionals and amateurs alike unknowingly published thousands of false proofs claiming to resolve it. False proof attempts are natural stumbling blocks on the road to mathematical progress. They tend to fall by the wayside, either when peers uncover flaws in expert research or when crank arguments fail basic smell tests for legitimacy. But one didnt fade quietly. Instead it forced a volunteer mathematician to tutor state senators, sparked media ridicule and nearly got an incorrect value of pi () codified into law.Heres the problem that consumed ancient Greek mathematicians and countless others since: given a circle, construct a square with the same area as it using only a compass and straightedge. You may remember compasses from school. They can take any two points and draw a circle centered at one of them while passing through the other. A straightedge helps you draw straight lines; its like a ruler without measurement markings. As the founders of the geometric proof, the Greeks placed special emphasis on the ability to draw, or construct, their objects of study with these simplest possible tools.The task seems straightforward, but a solution remained surprisingly elusive. In 1894 physician and mathematical dabbler Edward J. Goodwin believed he had found one. He felt so proud of his discovery that, in 1897, he drew up a bill for his home state of Indiana to enshrine what he thought was a mathematical proof into law. In exchange, he would allow the state to use his proof without paying royalties. At least three major red flags should have prompted lawmakers to regard Goodwin with skepticism. Math research has no norm around charging royalties or precedent for legally ratifying theorems, and the supposed proof was nonsense. Among other errors, it claimed that pi, the ratio of a circles circumference to its diameter, is 3.2 rather than the well-established 3.14159.... Yet, in a bizarre legislative oversight, the Indiana House of Representatives passed the bill in a unanimous vote.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Why would politicians enact hogwash and sully their sterling reputation of passing fact-based policy? In their defense, they seemed confused about the bills contents and played hot potato with it, first tossing it to the Committee on Canals, which flung it over to the Committee on Education. They held three formal readings of the bill before voting. Goodwin had also managed to publish his work in theAmerican Mathematical Monthly, a highly reputable journal to this day. This probably lent him credibility to outside eyes, even though the journal had a policy back then of uncritically publishing all submissions with a by request of the author tag. Perhaps Indianas house wanted to punt the problem to the state senate to determine the fate of the imperiled constant.As if this story wasnt outlandish enough, Goodwins endeavor to square the circle was actually doomed from the start: mathematician Ferdinand von Lindemann had proven the task impossible in 1882. Furthermore, Lindemanns argument explains why so many false proofs of squaring the circle hinge on erroneous values of pi.To see how, consider a circle with radius 1. Calculating the area, where A = r2, that circle has an area of . To have the same area, a squarecalculated by squaring the length of one sidewould need each side to measure . So the great geometric puzzle of antiquity boils down to: Given a reference length of 1 unit long, can you draw a line segment of length exactly using only a compass and straightedge? If you can do this, then finishing the other edges of the square at right angles is the easy part. Hordes of mathematicians wrestled with this question, and while nobody could resolve it, they had made significant progress by the time Lindemann stepped in.By then, the math community knew that only certain lengths were possible to construct. Strangely, you can construct a line of some length with a compass and straightedge only if that length can be expressed with integers and the algebraic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and square roots. So the simple tools of the Greeks can construct some highly complicated numbers such as:Amanda MontanezBut those tools couldnt construct comparatively simple numbers such as the cube root of 2 (the number that, when multiplied by itself three times, equals 2) because there is no way to express it in terms of the five permissible operations alone.Lindemann proved that pi is a transcendental number. This means that not only do +, , , / and fall short of expressing it, but even allowing more exotic operations such as cube roots, fifth roots, and so on wouldnt help. He did this by extending earlier work of mathematician Charles Hermite, who had demonstrated that another famous constant, e (Eulers number, 2.71828...), is transcendental. Although entwined with geometrys simplest shape, pi cannot be expressed with algebras simplest language. Because pi is not a constructible length, neither is , rendering the task of squaring the circle impossible. The discovery even seeped into idiomatic language. Today squaring the circle means attempting the impossible.These insights also explain why Goodwin could seemingly achieve the unachievable after assuming that pi equals 3.2. We can write 3.2 as 16 / 5, which clearly only uses integers and division. By substituting a neat, rational number for pi, Goodwin sidestepped the fundamental difficulty of the problem.Of course, nobody in the Indiana state government in 1897 knew any of this. Having passed the state house sans a single dissenting vote, the Hoosier State was a state senate hearing away from upending the foundations of math by fiat. By pure coincidence, the head professor of math at Purdue University, Clarence A. Waldo, happened to visit the statehouse just when lawmakers needed him. Waldo came to lobby for his schools budget when he overheard a mathematical discussion. Appalled at the proceedings, Waldo resolved to derail the bill. He stuck around to educate the state senators on geometric matters, hoping to end the farce. By debate time, the senators came equipped with Waldos tutelage and probably felt pressured by media attention, as news outlets had begun to cover the story in an unflattering light.An editorial in the Chicago Tribune brimmed with scathing sarcasm:The immediate effect of this change will be to give all circles when they enter Indiana either greater circumferences or less diameters. An Illinois circle or a circle originating in Ohio will find its proportions modified as soon as it lands on Indiana soil.... A Pi that is so simple as 3.2 ought to be free from any entangling features, but if perchance it still proves obdurate no doubt the Legislature will promptly lop off another decimal and call it 3.Indianas senate didnt vote down the bill. The state senators did, however, agree to postpone it indefinitely. Had it not been for a mathematician in the right place at the right time, they might have continued to go around in circles.

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