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☆ ‘Alphabet’ of sounds reveals complexity of sperm whale communication, scientists say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

They’ve identified previously unknown complexity in whale communication by analyzing thousands of recorded sequences of sperm whale clicks with artificial intelligence. What sperm whales are saying with their clicks remains a mystery to human ears. “This work builds on a lot of prior work focused on understanding the calls of sperm whales. For the new study, the researchers used machine learning to detect patterns in audio data collected by The Dominica Sperm Whale Project, a repository for observations of sperm whales that inhabit the Caribbean Sea. The study authors defined four features in codas: rhythm, tempo, rubato and ornamentation.

Persons: They’ve, ”, Daniela Rus, ” Rus, Luke Rendell, Andrews, Rendell, “, it’s, Rus, ” Rendell, Brenda McCowan, McCowan, ” McCowan, ” Mindy Weisberger Organizations: CNN —, Nature Communications, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, MIT, University of St, University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Scientific Locations: United Kingdom, Dominica, Eastern, Caribbean, Alaska

☆ Tesla slashed its Supercharger team. What does that mean for America’s EV network?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The news this week that Elon Musk laid off Tesla’s entire Supercharger team sent shockwaves of uncertainty through the industry tasked with building America’s new network of EV chargers. A fast and reliable charging network is an essential ingredient in getting more people to switch from gas-powered vehicles to electric, and some early types of chargers proved less than dependable. Tesla had a superior charging network long before President Joe Biden set an ambitious goal to install half a million stations around the US by the end of the decade. “There are many, many charging companies out there,” an EV industry source told CNN. “Charging is a difficult business, there’s no doubt about that,” the EV industry source said.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, Joe Biden, NEVI, “ It’s, ”, it’s, ” Daniel Sperling, University of California Davis, Loren McDonald, ” McDonald Organizations: CNN, EV, Joint Office of Energy, Transportation, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, NEVI, Infrastructure Law, ”, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California Locations: EVAdoption, New York

☆ Venture capital firm's plan to buy nonprofit hospital system has Ohio community on edge
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +17 min

In late 2022, Harrison joined venture firm General Catalyst, which has backed tech highfliers like Stripe, Snap and Airbnb . This is the first holistic transformation of a health system to a thoughtful combination of digital and in-person care." "It just makes people a little nervous, and it doesn't feel quite aligned with this concept of health care being a human right." To revolutionize how we care for patients, we in health care are doing the same." "This is not like a turnaround, this is not a distressed system," Harrison said.

Persons: Marc Harrison, who's, Astrid Stawiarz, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, He's, screeds, Harrison, Catalyst, HATCo, Fitch, Ceci Connolly, Connolly, She's, Freddy Krueger, John Bass, Bass, he's, Chris Bischoff, Bischoff, it's, Harrison isn't, Michael Greeley, Greeley, Beaumont, Cliff Deveny, hadn't, Deveny, Ben Sutton, Sutton, Shammas Malik, James Hardy, Hardy, Mayor Malik, Malik, we've, Capital's Greeley, Catalyst's Organizations: Healthy, CNBC, Intermountain Healthcare, Catalyst, Summa Health, Health Assurance Transformation Corporation, Summa Health Medina, Urban Institute, Fitch Ratings, Alliance of Community Health, General Catalyst, HCA Healthcare, University of California Davis Health, Intermountain, Flare Capital Partners, Beaumont Health, Health, Akron, Ideastream Public Media, HATCo Locations: New York City, Silicon Valley, Utah, Ohio, Harrison, PitchBook, U.S, Canada, Israel, Michigan, Beaumont, Akron, Summit County, Akron's

Burps are the top source of methane emissions from cattle. The company this spring began marketing semen with the methane trait in 80 countries. Selecting for the low methane trait could lock in lower and lower emissions for successive generations, she said. Semex is not initially charging extra for the methane trait, said Michael Lohuis, Semex's vice-president of research and innovation. Juha Nousiainen, senior vice-president at Valio, a Finnish dairy, warned that breeding cattle to burp less methane could create digestive problems.

Persons: Nathan Frandino, Loewith's, Loewith, Drew Sloan, Frank Mitloehner, University of California Davis, Mitloehner, Lactanet, Christine Baes, Baes, Michael Lohuis, Burger, Lohuis, Juha Nousiainen, Rod Nickel, Caroline Stauffer, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: Johann, REUTERS, University of California, University of Guelph, University of Alberta, biosciences, Canadian, Ottawa, Nestle, Burger King, Restaurant Brands, Thomson Locations: Fresno , California, U.S, WINNIPEG , Manitoba, Lynden , Ontario, Semex, Britain, US, Slovakia, United States, New Zealand, Valio, Winnipeg , Manitoba

☆ Space photos show over 1 trillion gallons of water flooding crop fields in California, and it could mean higher food prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Rebecca Strong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Tulare Lake used to be the largest lake west of the Mississippi River. This year's rain and snowmelt have replenished the lake, flooding many of the region's farms. And here's what it looked like on April 30:This is how the area looked on April 30, after Tulare Lake flooded. As of June, the flooded parts of Tulare Lake spanned about 178 square miles, or 113,920 acres — almost the size of Lake Tahoe. Tulare Lake began to reappear this March, before the Sierra Nevada snowpack started meltin.

Persons: Lauren Dauphin, NASA EOSDIS LANCE, Brad Rippey, Rippey, Dennis Hutson, Hutson, Nicholas Pinter, University of California Davis, — Organizations: Farmers, Service, NASA, U.S . Geological Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Atmospheric Administration, TAC Farm, for Watershed Sciences, University of California, Agriculture Assembly, Southern Sierra, Southern Sierra Nevada snowpack, San, Sierra, Sierra Nevada snowpack Locations: Tulare, Mississippi, Wall, Silicon, California, U.S, San Joaquin, Tulare Lake, Lake Tahoe, Tulare County, San Joaquin Valley, Tulare Lake ., Southern Sierra Nevada, Joaquin Valley, Sierra Nevada, Central

☆ 'Truth serum' drugs do exist. Here's how medicines like sodium pentothal and scopolamine can manipulate the brain.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Numerous accounts and scientific reports suggest that you're more prone to tell the truth under the effects of truth serum drugs, but the drugs have other side effects. Furthermore, not only are truth serum drugs not all that useful, they are illegal under certain circumstances, including interrogation. A truth serum experimentTo find out if truth serum works, TV journalist Michael Mosley experienced it for himself in 2013. To investigate sodium thiopental, one of the more popular truth serum drugs, Mosley took two different doses of it. The future of truth-telling drugsThere may be a more powerful truth serum drug out there that researchers have yet to discover.

Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Wednesday as a powerful storm expected to bring heavy rain, snow and flooding began its potentially dangerous onslaught. Mandatory evacuation orders were in effect for several cities in Northern California, including Richmond in the Bay Area and Watsonville in Santa Cruz County. Several communities experiencing some of the biggest downpours were still cleaning up from flooding caused by a storm over the weekend. While the precipitation appears out-of-character for the drought-stricken state, California would normally expect to see this type of rainfall during an average winter, experts said. April 1 is a typical high point for snowpack in California, where snow melt feeds reservoirs in May and June.

The agency did not respond to requests for comment on its record monitoring animal research experiments nationally. The USDA inspector general has published at least three reports since 2014 critical of the agency’s lax oversight, though its criticism dates back to the 1990s. Neuralink says on its website that it champions animal welfare and tries to reduce animal testing where possible. Two academic studies conducted in 2009 and 2012 found that animal research committees approved between 98% and 99% of experiments proposed by researchers. Envigo was made to sign the consent decree giving up the beagles only after the USDA inspector general and the Justice Department investigated and found evidence of inhumane treatment.

☆ Starbucks says it doesn't add potassium to its Dark French Roast coffee after another coffee company accused it of mislabeling the product
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A coffee company filed a complaint claiming Starbucks adds potassium to its Dark French Roast coffee. "We do not add potassium to Starbucks Dark French Roast coffee. Further, we are confident that the labeling for our Dark French Roast coffee is fully compliant with all U.S. Food and Drug Administration labeling requirements." In March 2022, Sachs said a test showed an "abnormally" high level of pH in the Starbucks coffee. While coffee usually has a pH balance around 5, the Starbucks coffee was allegedly showing a pH of 5.7 to 5.8, or about 70% less acid than regular coffee, Sachs said.

☆ 'Truth serum' drugs do exist. Here's how medicines like sodium pentothal and scopolamine manipulate the brain.
▼ + stars: | 2014-10-10 | by ( Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Numerous accounts and scientific reports suggest that you're more prone to tell the truth under the effects of truth serum drugs, but the drugs have other side effects. Furthermore, not only are truth serum drugs not all that useful, they are illegal under certain circumstances including interrogation. ScopolamineZchanguScopolamine was first promoted by Dr. Robert House as a truth serum in the early 20th century, and was the first drug to adopt the name "truth serum." A truth serum experimentThe best way to find out if truth serum works is to experience it for yourself, which is exactly what TV journalist Michael Mosley did. To investigate sodium thiopental, one of the more popular truth serum drugs, Mosley took two different doses of the drug.

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