Month: December 2024

Categories
Science

IEA coal outlook: Unhealthy information for Miliband. – Are you completed with that?

IEA coal outlook: Bad news for Miliband. – Are you finished with that?

Not many people know that

By Paul Homewood

https://www.iea.org/reports/coal-2024

According to the latest IEA report, coal consumption will reach a record high this year and continue to rise until 2027. No forecasts are made for the years thereafter.

https://www.iea.org/reports/coal-2024

There still seems to be a certain naive surprise at the IES that renewables are not replacing coal.

They still don't understand that countries like China and India know they can't build their economies on the whims of wind and solar power.

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Categories
Health

Why medical insurance upsets People

Insurance stocks have fallen since the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

A person holds a sign while standing on the roadside near the McDonald’s restaurant where a suspect in the killing of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, identified as Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, U.S. December 9, 2024. 

Matthew Hatcher | Reuters

The deadly, targeted shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has unleashed a torrent of pent-up anger and resentment toward the insurance industry, renewed calls for reform and reignited a debate over health care in the U.S. 

Almost no expert, provider, or patient would say U.S. health care works as it should for patients. The problem is deciding how to improve it.

Luigi Mangione, 26, is accused of fatally shooting Thompson outside the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan on Dec. 4, as the CEO headed to the annual investor day of his company’s parent, UnitedHealth Group. Investigators have said Mangione was a critic of UnitedHealthcare and the broader health-care industry.

The killing sparked a flood of social media posts voicing negative experiences with insurers, morbid praise and justification for Thompson’s killing and threats toward other insurance executives – igniting frustrations that have bubbled for years. Those reactions drew rebukes from others who condemned them as inhumane after Thompson’s death. 

U.S. patients spend far more on health care than anywhere else in the world, yet have the lowest life expectancy among large, wealthy countries, according to the Commonwealth Fund, an independent research group. Over the past five years, U.S. spending on insurance premiums, out-of-pocket co-payments, pharmaceuticals and hospital services has also increased, government data shows.

Many patients, advocacy groups and experts say the industry and U.S. health-care system are flawed or broken entirely, often burdening Americans who simply need care with exorbitant costs and daunting hurdles. But there is less consensus on the root cause of the insurance issues and how exactly to fix American health care, a complicated and entrenched system for delivering services and treatments that costs the nation more than $4 trillion a year. 

Some experts acknowledged that insurers play a valuable role and must deal with a larger system where multiple stakeholders balance providing care with profit motives. Other experts also noted that insurers have had to grapple with pressures on their businesses, such as lower government reimbursement rates for private Medicare plans and higher medical costs among enrollees in those programs. UnitedHealthcare in particular is also grappling with the fallout from a massive ransomware attack in February targeting its company, Change Healthcare, which processes medical claims.

But patients and advocacy groups stressed that those companies’ decisions often come at the expense of patients. Insurers’ moves to rein in costs for services can often lead to denied or delayed claims, higher premiums and unexpected bills, which can leave patients without care and be the difference between life or death.

Patients frustrated with a flawed system

The U.S. insurance industry is dominated by private-sector companies such as UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health and Cigna, and operates as a largely for-profit enterprise — in contrast with most other wealthy countries. That means the industry’s primary goal is to generate profit by charging premiums to customers and managing claims to minimize payouts while complying with regulations and satisfying customers.

That leads insurers to weed out care that’s not medically necessary or not backed by scientific evidence, which helps increase their profit margins. But companies can also deny reasonable and necessary claims, preventing patients in genuine need of care from getting it or leaving them with hefty medical charges. 

Tactics include delaying or denying valid claims to limit payouts, increasing premiums in a way that disproportionately burdens lower-income patients and people of color, and requiring prior authorization, which makes providers obtain approval from a patient’s insurance company before administering specific treatments. Insurers increasingly rely on technology, including AI, to review claims, which can lead to inaccurate denials or improper payouts. 

A banner hanging from on overpass along the southbound lane of I-83 that says, “Deny Defend Depose Health Care 4 All.”

Lloyd Fox | Baltimore Sun | Tribune News Service | Getty Images

Roughly half of insured adults worry about affording their monthly health insurance premium, according to a March survey from KFF, a policy research organization. The survey added that large shares of adults with employee-sponsored plans and government market coverage rate their insurance as “fair” or “poor” in terms of their monthly premium and out-of-pocket costs to see a doctor. 

A separate KFF survey from 2023 showed that nearly one in five adults had claims denied in the past year. People who used more health services were more likely to have claims rejected, according to the poll. 

No one knows exactly how often private insurers deny claims, since they are generally not required to disclose that data. But UnitedHealthcare, which as the largest private health insurer in the U.S. posted more than $281 billion in revenue last year, is a frequent target for criticism over how it handles claims. 

For example, UnitedHealthcare last year settled a case brought by a severely ill student at Penn State University who claimed the company denied coverage for drugs his doctors determined were medically necessary, leaving him with a bill of more than $800,000. An investigation by ProPublica outlined the lengths UnitedHealthcare went to reject claims, including by burying medical reports. UnitedHealthcare has since settled the case.

Families of two now-deceased customers also sued UnitedHealthcare last year, alleging the company knowingly used a faulty algorithm to deny elderly patients coverage for extended care deemed necessary by their doctors. In court filings earlier this year, UnitedHealth Group said it should be dismissed from the lawsuit because the patients and their families did not finish Medicare’s appeals process for claims.

Some people aired their frustrations with the company’s practices on social media when reacting to Thompson’s death.

One Instagram user wrote in a post that “My condolences are out-of-network.” Another user commented under a CNBC Instagram post about the killing, “Sorry but with the way they be denying coverage for everyday patients.. no comment.”

The logo of UnitedHealth appears on the side of one of its office buildings in Santa Ana, California, on April 13, 2020.

Mike Blake | Reuters

Celebrating or justifying the death of anyone is “appalling,” said Caitlin Donovan, senior director of Patient Advocate Foundation, which provides case management services and financial aid to Americans with serious illnesses. But she said it is not surprising that people are frustrated with the health-care system. 

“People just want the system to be fair,” Donovan said. “They want to pay a reasonable amount and have their health care covered, and they want to be able to access what their trusted provider is prescribing them.”

What is the root cause?

Though the issues are well understood, parsing out which stakeholders are to blame is a complicated task.

Some industry experts argued it is necessary for insurers to control costs under the current health-care system. Insurers are mostly paid by employers and government agencies, which set many of the rules around the coverage they offer. 

If insurers paid out every claim they received, premiums would likely skyrocket, said Evan Saltzman, professor in the department of risk management/insurance, real estate and legal studies at Florida State University’s College of Business.

“If you want to keep premiums reasonable, you do need the insurer to police some of the claims being filed,” Saltzman said. He acknowledged insurers sometimes deny “perfectly reasonable claims” and not just unnecessary or fraudulent care. 

He said insurers can also help police bad actors in the health-care system, such as some doctors who attempt to prescribe unnecessary treatments to patients to increase profits. 

Saltzman said one of the underlying causes of insurance issues is “information asymmetry” between insurers and patients. Patients often know more about their personal health risk than their insurance company, but the insurer often knows far more about the health-care networks and coverage details, Saltzman said.

UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty similarly blamed a lack of transparency in the insurance industry in a New York Times opinion piece on Friday, his first public remarks since the shooting. He said insurers, together with employers, governments and other payers, need to better explain what is covered and how those decisions are made. 

Still, he defended the way insurers make claim decisions, saying behind them “lies a comprehensive and continually updated body of clinical evidence focused on achieving the best health outcomes and ensuring patient safety.”

But Donovan said Witty’s column “missed the mark.” While the health-care system needs more transparency, Donovan said Witty’s proposed solution “puts the onus on patients when that’s not where it should be.” 

Insurance policies are often written with technical language that is difficult to understand. Patients could become confused about what is covered, and may not realize the limitations of their coverage until they try to file a claim, she said.

Donovan believes the root issue is cost — a system built around maximizing prices and revenue, rather than helping patients. 

For example, the industry has limited competition after consolidation, and its traditional payment model reimburses providers based on each service they perform, which can lead to overtreatment and higher costs. 

Drug middlemen called pharmacy benefit managers — which negotiate drug discounts with manufacturers on behalf of insurance plans — also put pressure on other parts of the system. For example, lawmakers and drugmakers have accused PBMs of charging insurers more for drugs than they reimburse pharmacies, pocketing the difference as profit. 

Donovan acknowledged that insurers attempt to negotiate with providers to cut prices for services and products. But she said insurers are often more focused on managing costs for their business than advocating for patients. 

How health care could be reformed

Industry experts don’t expect insurance companies to make material changes to their policies in response to the killing. 

Policy changes at companies alone won’t drastically improve care for patients, according to Veer Gidwaney, the founder and CEO of Ansel Health. His private company offers simplified supplemental insurance for members diagnosed with more than 13,000 conditions

Gidwaney said there will need to be structural changes to the entire industry, which will require harder, longer-term legislative efforts. That may prove difficult with Republicans set to take control of a closely divided Congress for the next two years.

To decrease costs and barriers to access for patients, Donovan said the government could more heavily scrutinize the health-care consolidation that eats up independent providers. She also said legislators could pass more laws to protect patients from surprise ambulance bills and address shortages across the health-care system that drive up costs, such as the limited supply of certain drugs or clinicians. 

The incoming administration under President-elect Donald Trump could also push for more transparency in the health-care industry, according to Stephen Parente, an insurance professor at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. Parente served in two different health policy roles in the first Trump administration and has worked directly with UnitedHealthcare’s Thompson. 

He noted, for example, that the Trump administration issued a rule that required most employer-based health plans and issuers of group or individual plans to disclose price and cost-sharing information for covered items and services, which went into effect in July 2022. 

“There might be fresh pressure for denial rates to be put out. I’d like for insurers and Medicare to be transparent about their denial rates,” Parente said. 

Until any significant changes occur, patients can “really try to take control of their own health,” said Michael Hinton, a patient who was diagnosed with a chronic digestive disease called gastroparesis more than 14 years ago. He said that could look like taking notes and asking questions during appointments, tracking insurance payments, learning more about the condition they suffer from and turning to third parties for help.

In Hinton’s case, the Patient Advocate Foundation helped him navigate coverage for a critical surgery that was denied twice by his insurance. 

“I find it so disturbing and sad. It’s just unbelievable,” Hinton said, referring to the fatal shooting earlier this month. “There are other methods of change — and that could look like trying to be your own advocate.” 

Categories
Technology

Dutch startups raised $3.5 billion in 2024. Listed below are the 10 largest funding rounds

Dutch startups raised $3.5 billion in 2024. Here are the 10 largest funding rounds

It was a great year for the Dutch startup ecosystem.

Venture capitalists have invested $3.5 billion so far according to Dealroom, in early-stage companies based in the Netherlands. This makes 2024 the second best funding year for the Dutch technology sector ever and will only be surpassed in 2021.

Dutch startups have raised almost 50% more ($1.1 billion) in cash this year than in 2023 – and there are still two weeks to go. This is a notable increase, especially given the rather subdued financing environment in wider Europe, which is heading for its worst year since 2020.

The Netherlands will be the fourth best funded ecosystem in Europe in 2024. They are two places higher than last year and surpass Sweden and Switzerland. Unsurprisingly, the UK will take the top spot with $17 billion raised so far. Germany is in second place with $7.9 billion, while France is a close third with $7.7 billion.

With that in mind, here are the 10 biggest funding rounds that made 2024 such a lucrative year for the Dutch startup ecosystem. (Disclaimer: For this list we count all young companies headquartered in the Netherlands, which were not necessarily founded there).

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1. I won't – $700 million

The was a direct hit. The startup that builds full stack AI Infrastructure for technology companies, secured the equity in December in a deal led by Nvidia, Accel and other blue-chip investors.

2. picnic – $388 million

The Dutch online supermarket unicorn the financing bagged in January to further its international expansion as it aims to become a profitable grocery delivery service (which has proven damn difficult for most).

3. Near field instruments – $147 million

The Rotterdam-based company makes advanced tools for inspecting computer chips during manufacturing, contributing to the wealth of the Netherlands Semiconductor success stories.

4. stables – $110 million

Cha ching! We have a new unicorn in the house. More precisely, in our house, as Mews is based at TNW City in Amsterdam. The startup that a cloud-based property management system (PMS) for the hospitality industry $110 million in March with a valuation of over $1.2 billion. Then, in September, things plummeted another $100 million.

That's great, Mews.

5. DataSnipper – $100 million

Cha-ching, again! DataSnipper, a maker of AI-powered accounting tools, raised $100 million in February at a valuation of $1 billion, making it the Netherlands' second newly minted unicorn of 2024.

6. Citryll — €89 million

The biotech company develops therapies for inflammatory diseases. The company will use the Series B funding to advance its lead product, CIT-013, into Phase 2a clinical trials.

7. cradle – $73 million

Founded in 2022, Cradle uses generative AI to design and optimize proteins with the goal of reducing the time and cost of protein engineering. The Amsterdam startup wants to put its software “into the hands of a million scientists.”

8. Axelera AI — $68 million

The Eindhoven-based startup develops chips called AI processing units (AIPUs) that enable computer vision and generative AI in devices such as robots and drones. The funding round was led by Samsung's venture arm. For a chip startup, that's not a bad investor.

9. Time – $58 million

Payt Software's AI-powered platform optimizes the debt collection process through automated invoicing. Not exactly “sexy” technology, but the startup’s product is used by over 13,000 companies in the Netherlands alone, so it must be doing something right.

10. Vico Therapeutics – $56 million

Vico was founded in 2019 develops therapies for serious neurological diseases. The company is the third healthtech startup on this list and for good reason – the Netherlands has established itself as one of the world's leading centers for biotechnology and life sciences.

Overall, the Dutch startup ecosystem has demonstrated its resilience and strength in 2024, achieving remarkable growth despite major challenges in the European financing environment. Salways The services come from the areas of biotechnology, AI and semiconductors. Looking forward, these funding successes position the country's startups to achieve an even greater global impact by 2025.

Categories
Sport

CFP Participant Rank: The highest 50 gamers within the playoff

CFP Player Rank: The top 50 players in the playoff

Dec 18, 2024, 07:00 AM ET

There’s lots to love about the 12-team playoff (unless you’re Alabama), but at the top of the list is this: We get three times as much star power this year.

In the four-team era, the country wouldn’t get to see the explosiveness of Ashton Jeanty or the brute force of Cam Skattebo or the all-around brilliance of Tyler Warren. The stage is bigger, so the stars can shine brighter.

With that in mind, ESPN’s Bill Connelly, David Hale, Chris Low, Adam Rittenberg and Paolo Uggetti combed through the rosters of all 12 playoff teams to rank the top 50 players of the College Football Playoff.

This isn’t a ranking of the stars who accomplished the most in the regular season, per se, though that plays a part. It’s also not necessarily a ranking of the players who will put up the biggest numbers over the next seven weeks. Consider it more of a viewer’s guide: When you tune in for the College Football Playoff, these are the 50 players you won’t want to miss. — David Hale

Jump to:
Top 25 | Top 10

WR, Clemson, sophomore
2024 stats: 838 yards, 10 TDs

After a breakout freshman season in 2022, Williams missed all but five games last year. The time away did little to hamper his development, however, and he returned in 2024 with a vengeance. He finished the season as the only player in the country with at least 800 receiving yards, 100 rushing yards and 100 punt return yards, and he also added a passing touchdown to his résumé, too. Williams was Clemson’s most consistent receiver, catching 10 touchdown passes and hauling in at least five passes in each of the Tigers’ final six games. His 18-yard grab on the final scrimmage play of the ACC championship game set up the game-winning field goal that launched Clemson into the playoff. — Hale

OL, Arizona State, senior
2024 stats: No sacks allowed

ASU’s offensive MVP in 2023, the center returned to Tempe for his senior season and became one of the rocks of the Big 12’s surprise team. Starting all 13 games, he was credited with only eight blown blocks all season — five pressures and three blown run blocks — and he will finish his career having earned all-conference votes in three separate conferences: the Mountain West (with UNLV), Pac-12 and Big 12. He’s a modern success story. — Bill Connelly

DB, Georgia, senior
2024 stats: 46 solo tackles, 1 FF, 3 PDs, 2 INTs

While Bulldogs safeties Malaki Starks and KJ Bolden were five-star recruits, Jackson had zero stars as a senior at North Hall High School in Gainesville, Georgia. Jackson wasn’t even an invited walk-on when he joined the Bulldogs in 2019. Remarkably, on a defense littered with future NFL players the past few seasons, Jackson started 18 games. This season, the hard-hitting safety had 60 tackles, 1½ tackles for loss, 2 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery. The sixth-year senior made one of the biggest plays of the season when he forced Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King to fumble with about two minutes left in regulation. Georgia won 44-42 in overtime. — Mark Schlabach

DE, Boise State, senior
2024 stats: 23 solo tackles, 8.5 sacks

After spending much of his childhood in Egypt, Hassanein has blossomed into one of the best defensive players in college football. He was named first-team All-Mountain West for a second straight year after finishing the regular season with 8.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. — Kyle Bonagura

DB, Indiana, sophomore
2024 stats: 35 solo tackles, 2 INTs, 9 PDs

Ponds delivered one of the more memorable plays in Indiana’s breakthrough season, a 65-yard pick-six against Washington before a raucous crowd on a weekend where ESPN’s “College GameDay” went to Bloomington for just the second time. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Ponds had two interceptions against Washington and finished the season with 53 tackles, which ranked fourth on the team. Ponds, a first-team All-Big Ten selection who joined Curt Cignetti at IU from James Madison, led the Hoosiers with nine pass breakups and also blocked a punt against Michigan State that resulted in a safety. — Adam Rittenberg

S, Penn State, senior
2024 stats: 43 solo tackles, 1 FF, 3 INTs, 3 PDs

He has lined up as a safety, a nickelback, an outside linebacker and an inside linebacker. He leads Penn State’s defense in tackles and has generated 6 pressures and 1.5 sacks in 30 pass rushes. He also has made seven run stops (at or behind the line of scrimmage) and has picked off three passes with three breakups in coverage. He is the kind of senior leader every good defense needs. — Connelly

QB, Arizona State, freshman
2024 stats: 2,663 yards, 24 TDs, 5 INTs

As important as Cam Skattebo was, Leavitt wasn’t far behind. The Sun Devils were 11-1 with him as the starter and have not lost a game he has played since Sept. 21, a span of eight games to end the regular season. Leavitt threw for 2,663 yards with 24 touchdowns to five interceptions and his QBR (81.6) ranked No. 11 in college football. — Bonagura

QB, Notre Dame, senior
2024 stats: 2,092 yards, 16 TDs, 5 INTs

At first, his tenure as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback was defined by a dismal loss to Northern Illinois. But since Week 3, he has been the seventh-best quarterback in college football (and third best in the CFP) based on Total QBR. He has topped 80 non-sack rushing yards four times, he has completed 68% of his passes with 16 TDs and only three interceptions since NIU, and most importantly, Notre Dame is 10-0 since then, too. — Connelly

QB, Ohio State, senior
2024 stats: 2,860 yards, 27 TDs, 8 INTs

A transfer from Kansas State, Howard stepped into a high-profile role and generally handled himself well. He completed 72.3% of his passes for 2,860 yards and 27 touchdowns. Howard had some tough moments in Ohio State’s losses to Oregon and Michigan, and even in a win at Penn State, but his accuracy stands out, and he rushed for touchdowns in seven games. A third-team All-Big Ten selection, Howard had multiple touchdown passes in 10 of 12 games and has 66 touchdown passes over the past three seasons. — Rittenberg

Will Howard has had some tough moments for Ohio State, but his accuracy stands out. Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images

LB, Notre Dame, senior
2024 stats: 37 solo tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF

No player in Notre Dame’s storied history has appeared in more games wearing an Irish uniform than Kiser, who is up to 66 in his sixth year with the program. A team captain this fall, he leads Notre Dame with 66 tackles, including three for loss and one sack, and he has added a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and three quarterback hurries. The 6-2, 231-pound Kiser anchors a Notre Dame defense that ranks third nationally in fewest points allowed and has fueled the team’s CFP run. — Rittenberg

S, SMU, junior
2024 stats: 51 solo tackles, 3 INTs, 3 PDs

An all-around ball hawk, Nwokobia emerged as one of the best defensive players in the ACC in the Mustangs’ first season in the league. Nwokobia took the next step after being selected MVP in the American championship game a year ago, finishing second on the team with 96 total tackles, with 3.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 3 pass breakups and 2 quarterback hurries. His interception in the end zone late against Louisville helped seal one of their best wins of the season. — Andrea Adelson

DL, Tennessee, junior
2024 stats:17 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 FFs

The 6-3, 245-pound junior edge rusher is the highest-graded defender in the SEC (minimum 150 snaps), according to Pro Football Focus. Josephs is second on Tennessee’s team with nine tackles for loss and eight quarterback hurries, and he leads the team with three forced fumbles. Josephs had some of his best games in two of the Vols’ biggest wins, including a career-best three quarterback hurries in the win over Alabama and a career-best seven tackles (1.5 for loss) in an overtime win against Florida. — Chris Low

QB, Penn State, junior
2024 stats: 2,894 yards. 21 TDs, 7 INTs

A year ago, the knock on Allar was a lack of big-play performance. His overall numbers were impressive — 25 touchdown passes and only two picks — but after he completed less than half of his passes against Ohio State and Michigan, the enthusiasm was diminished. In the offseason, Penn State brought in new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, and the results have been encouraging. Allar’s yards-per-attempt went from 6.8 in 2023 to 8.9 in 2024, while his completion percentage ballooned from 60% last seaosn to nearly 70% this season. — Hale

RB, Oregon, junior
2024 stats: 1,253 yards, 15 TDs

James was a was a second-team All-Big Ten selection after rushing for 1,253 yards with 15 touchdowns. James was a model of consistency rushing for between 83 and 121 yards in 11 of the Ducks’ 13 games and was held out of the end zone in only two games. — Bonagura

DE, Oregon, sophomore
2024 stats: 23 solo tackles, 10.5 sacks, 2 FFs, 1 INT

Many expected a breakout sophomore season from Uiagaleielei, who showed plenty of flashes of greatness during limited action in his freshman campaign, and he did just that. Uiagaleilei totaled 10.5 sacks, nearly one per game, and good for eighth-most of any player in the country. The sophomore added 23 solo tackles, 2 forced fumbles and 1 interception, solidifying himself as one of the best defenders in the forthcoming playoff field, and in the country. — Paolo Uggetti

DL, Clemson, sophomore
2024 stats: 15 solo tackles, 3 sacks, 1 FF

He’s 315 pounds of pure O-lineman-eating machine, and this season, Clemson lined him up on the edge. The results were mixed. Woods finished the regular season with only three sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss, battling some injuries along the way and sitting out two games. But the upside remains incredible. Woods moves like a player half his size, and even when he’s not making the sack, he’s commanding the attention of opposing offenses, often freeing up rush lanes for his partner in crime, T.J. Parker. In the opener against Texas, he’ll probably have his share of head-to-head battles with Kelvin Banks, setting up one of the most intriguing matchups of the postseason. — Hale

OL, Oregon, junior
2024 stats: 1.4% pressure pct

A first-team All-Big Ten tackle, Conerly was the standout member of an Oregon offensive line that ranked No. 7 nationally in points per drive (3.05). No Power 4 quarterback with as many dropbacks as Ducks QB Dillon Gabriel (439) was sacked fewer times than he was (13), leading a balanced offensive attack. — Bonagura

DE, Boise State, sophomore
2024 stats: 20 solo tackles, 10 sacks, 1 FF

With so much attention on Ashton Jeanty and the Broncos’ offense this season, what has gone under the radar is Boise’s defense and more specifically, the play of defensive end Virgin-Morgan, who has been a force. The sophomore from San Diego didn’t have a single sack in his first season in Boise, but this season he turned the backfield into his playground and recorded 10 sacks. At 6-3, 245 pounds, Virgin-Morgan is one of the more dynamic players in the playoff and certainly one who deserves more of the spotlight. — Uggetti

DE, Ohio State, senior
2024 stats: 20 solo tackles, 4.5 sacks, 2 FFs, 1 INT

Sawyer nearly came up with the game-changing play, intercepting a pass at the goal line in the fourth quarter against Michigan, but the Wolverines wound up winning anyway 13-10. Sawyer has had an impactful senior season, with 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles on the way to earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. — Jake Trotter

LB, Clemson, senior
2024 stats: 39 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks

Carter opted to return to Clemson for one season, and the move paid off. A Butkus Award finalist and first-team All-ACC selection, Carter again made an impact on defense. Carter racked up 76 total tackles — including 10.5 tackles for loss while adding seven pass breakups and seven passes defended. There’s a reason coach Dabo Swinney calls him “one of the best pure football players I’ve had in 20 years.” — Adelson

Barrett Carter racked up 76 total tackles this year for Clemson. AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

QB, SMU, sophomore
2024 stats: 3,050 yards, 22 TDs, 8 INTs

When coach Rhett Lashlee decided to elevate Jennings as his starter midway through the BYU game in Week 3, you could say the decision changed the trajectory of the Mustangs’ season. Jennings went 9-1 as the starter, coming up just short in a 34-31 loss to Clemson in the ACC title game. On the season, Jennings threw for 3,050 yards, 22 touchdowns and 8 interceptions while adding 529 yards rushing and six scores. — Adelson

LB, Ohio State, senior
2024 stats: 31 solo tackles, 5 sacks, 1 FF

Simon can be overshadowed by Ohio State’s other big-name players, but he is quietly having a fantastic senior season. Though only a third-team All-Big Ten selection, the team captain is second on Ohio State with 74 tackles and five sacks. Simon came up with several huge plays late to help the Buckeyes stave off an upset bid from Nebraska in a 21-17 victory in late October. — Trotter

LB, Indiana, junior
2024 stats: 44 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks

Fisher became the engine of Indiana’s improvement on defense under coordinator Bryant Haines. He finished third in the Big Ten with 108 tackles, recording eight or more in eight games. Fisher earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and had four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also became an immediate leader for a defense that led the nation against the run and was No. 6 in fewest points allowed. — Rittenberg

DB, Georgia, junior
2024 stats:48 solo tackles, 1 INT, 3 PDs

Georgia’s coaches asked Starks to wear multiple hats in the secondary this season, as the junior lined up at safety and the star position. He led the Bulldogs with 73 tackles to go with 4 tackles for loss, 1 interception and 3 pass breakups. Starks’ instincts and versatility are a big reason why he’s considered the top safety in next year’s NFL draft. According to PFF, he lined up 252 times in the slot, 190 in the box and 385 on the back end of the defense. He missed six tackles in 843 snaps. — Schlabach

QB, Clemson, junior
2024 stats: 3,303 yards, 33 TDs, 5 INTs

Consistency was the biggest issue for Klubnik in his first season as Clemson’s starter in 2023, but he has been a steady performer week in and week out, particularly when it comes to using his legs. Klubnik rushed for 458 yards and seven touchdowns this season to go with more than 3,300 yards passing. His 33 touchdown throws rank third nationally, his 6.60 TD-to-INT ratio was best in FBS, and his 78.9 Total QBR ranks third among playoff QBs, trailing only Dillon Gabriel and Carson Beck. — Hale

OL, Georgia, senior
2024 stats: 0.4% pressure pct

It was no coincidence that Georgia’s offensive line did a better job protecting quarterback Carson Beck once Ratledge returned to the starting lineup. The 6-6, 320-pound senior sat out four games after undergoing surgery on his right ankle on Sept. 17. He played every snap in the Bulldogs’ 31-17 win over Tennessee on Nov. 16. Georgia didn’t allow the Volunteers’ vaunted defense to record a sack, and Ratledge was selected SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his effort. He gave up one sack and three quarterback hurries in 436 snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus. — Schlabach

DB, Texas, senior
2024 stats: 33 solo tackles, 1 FF, 4 INTs, 5 PDs

The 6-0, 190-pound Austin native, who transferred back to Texas after three years at Clemson, is a physical hitter who helped stabilize the Longhorns’ pass defense, which ranked 116th last season and No. 1 this season (143.1 YPG). He had 52 tackles (four for loss) with four interceptions this season, and led the Longhorns in tackles against Georgia in the SEC championship game with 11. — Dave Wilson

OL, Ohio State, senior
2024 stats: 250 snaps at both LT and LG

Jackson’s versatility helped the Buckeyes weather the season-ending injury to left tackle Josh Simmons. After Jackson slid from left guard to left tackle, the Buckeyes defeated Penn State, then Indiana to earn the home playoff game. Regardless of position, Jackson has given up only seven quarterback pressures and three sacks all season. — Trotter

DL, Indiana, junior
2024 stats: 19 solo tackles, 10 sacks, 2 FFs

The James Madison transfer who followed coach Curt Cignetti to IU filled several roles, including pass rushing, where Kamara thrived. He finished second in the Big Ten in both tackles for loss (15.5) and sacks (10), while earning first-team all-conference honors. Kamara became the first Indiana player to record 10 or more sacks since Jammie Kirlew in 2008, and has now recorded a tackle for loss in 30 of 35 career games. Kamara also forced two fumbles and had three fumble recoveries. — Rittenberg

Mikail Kamara finished second in the Big Ten in both tackles for loss and sacks. Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire

DB, Tennessee, sophomore
2024 stats: 22 solo tackles, 4 INTs, 7 PDs

The Vols picked up McCoy in the transfer portal from Oregon State, and he has been a key addition on a defense that has given up more than 19 points in a game only once this season. The 6-0, 193-pound sophomore was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist as the top defensive back in college football, and he is second in the SEC with 13 passes defended and tied for second with four interceptions. He’s a lockdown cover cornerback who has made several game-changing plays for the Vols. — Low

DL, Tennessee, junior
2024 stats: 20 solo tackles, 7.5 sacks, 1 FF

After a slower start, mostly because of added attention from opposing offenses, Pearce played his best football down the stretch and leads all SEC defenders with 52 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. With 110 career pressures in three seasons at Tennessee, the 6-5, 243-pound junior edge rusher leads the Vols with 11 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks this season. He has registered at least half a tackle for loss in eight straight games. — Low

S, Ohio State, sophomore
2024 stats: 33 solo tackles, 1 INT, 3 PDs

Downs has made an impact in his first season at Ohio State, both on defense and special teams. Downs, the SEC Freshman of the Year last season at Alabama before transferring, is third on the Buckeyes with 61 tackles to go along with two sacks and an interception. He also had a punt return touchdown that ignited a 38-15 rout of Indiana. — Trotter

RB, SMU, senior
2024 stats: 1,270 yards, 14 TDs

Smith made the switch from receiver to running back this season and found a different gear — posting the best season of his career after transferring from Miami. He earned a spot on the All-ACC first team with 1,270 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns, adding 303 yards receiving and four scores. His ability to make explosive plays helped transform the Mustangs’ offense into one of the most dynamic in the country. — Adelson

DE, Clemson, sophomore
2024 stats: 32 solo tackles, 11 sacks, 6 FFs

The sophomore defensive end made a huge impact along the Tigers’ front, with 19 tackles for loss to rank No. 6 in the country, and 11 sacks to rank No. 11. His performance in the second half of the season is where he really made his mark. In his past seven games, Parker has 7 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 16 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage and 32 tackles — including eight and 3.5 tackles for loss in the ACC championship game. — Adelson

QB, Indiana, sophomore
2024 stats: 2,827 yards, 27 TDs, 4 INTs

The Ohio transfer anchored Indiana’s efficient and powerful offense, completing 70.4% of his passes for 2,827 yards with 27 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He had touchdown passes in 10 of the 11 games he played, and had a 74% or better completion rate six times, while spreading the ball to Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper Jr. and others. Rourke earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and tied a team single-game record with six touchdown passes in a rout of rival Purdue. — Rittenberg

WR, Oregon, senior
2024 stats: 78 receptions, 866 yards, 10 TDs

After a 1,182-yard season while catching passes from Bo Nix last season, it was going to be difficult for Johnson to top that in 2024. Despite not having Nix under center and having to acclimate to a new quarterback while Oregon added transfer wideout Evan Stewart, Johnson didn’t miss a beat. The senior from Alabama was still the Ducks’ leading pass catcher (866 yards and 10 touchdowns) despite sitting out two games because of injury only to have his best game of the season in the Big Ten title game with 181 yards and a touchdown. — Uggetti

DL, Oregon, junior
2024 stats: 24 solo tackles, 5 sacks, 2 FFs

Much like his QB Dillon Gabriel, Harmon has made the most of his transfer decision. After three years at Michigan State, Harmon arrived in Eugene with the expectation he would wreak havoc on the Ducks’ defensive line. He has done exactly that and more. In 13 games, Harmon has 42 tackles, 24 solo tackles, 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles — all of them career highs. Oregon’s defense hasn’t been underrated, but it’s worth noting that its consistency has been largely anchored by Harmon’s play. — Uggetti

S, Notre Dame, senior
2024 stats: 31 solo tackles, 1 FF, 5 INTs, 8 PDs

A year ago, Watts won the Bronko Nagurski trophy as the nation’s best defender, and yet in 2024, he was almost certainly better. Though his interception total dipped from seven to five, that was still tied for third most nationally. Meanwhile, Watts gave up only nine completions — and no TDs — as the primary defender in coverage this season, while racking up 14 passes defended, 11th most in the country. He also tallied 49 tackles, three QB hurries and a forced fumble as the centerpiece of Notre Dame’s exceptional secondary. — Hale

LB, Georgia, junior
2024 stats: 35 solo tackles, 6.5 sacks

The junior won the Butkus Award as the sport’s top linebacker after totaling 57 tackles, 10½ tackles for loss, 6½ sacks and 2 fumble recoveries this season. Texas will probably be happy to see the projected NFL first-round pick turn pro. Walker had seven tackles and three sacks in the first half of the Bulldogs’ 30-15 win at Texas on Oct. 19, then had three tackles for loss and one sack in a 22-19 overtime victory against the Longhorns in the SEC championship game. — Schlabach

Jalon Walker recorded 58 total tackles for Georgia. Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images

RB, Notre Dame, sophomore
2024 stats: 949 yards, 15 TDs

He shares a backfield with the almost equally brilliant Jadarian Price, so his carry totals don’t match those of other backs, but college football’s 2024 hurdles champion proves his awesomeness with every touch, averaging 7.1 yards per carry and scoring a touchdown on every 9.2 carries or receptions. And of the 46 players with at least 900 rushing yards, Love’s 4.1 yards per carry after contact are second to only Ashton Jeanty. — Connelly

WR, Ohio State, freshman
2024 stats: 57 receptions, 934 yards, 10 TDs

The Big Ten Freshman and Receiver of the Year shattered all of Cris Carter’s Ohio State true freshman receiving records set in 1984. On a Buckeyes offense loaded with playmakers, Smith is the most dangerous, highlighted by an ability to bring down one-handed catches or break off big runs after the catch. — Trotter

LB, Texas, sophomore
2024 stats: 47 solo tackles, 7.5 sacks, 4 FFs, 1 INT

The 6-3, 235-pound sophomore linebacker is an every-down, sideline-to-sideline star. He led Texas in tackles (90), tackles for loss (16), forced fumbles (4), and he was second in sacks (7.5). He added an interception, four hurries and a fumble recovery to his stat line this fall. — Wilson

RB, Tennessee, junior
2024 stats: 1,485 yards, 22 TDs

Sampson has been the cornerstone of Tennessee’s offense and one of the more consistent running backs in the country. The 5-11, 201-pound junior has 1,485 rushing yards and set the school record with 22 rushing touchdowns. Sampson became the second Tennessee player to have 10 rushing games of 100-plus yards in a season, and 1,051 of his yards came against SEC competition. He was selected as the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year by the conference’s coaches. — Low

DB, Texas, senior
2024 stats: 32 solo tackles, 5 INT, 9 PDs

Barron, a fifth-year senior, won the Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back. He has 36 career starts for the Longhorns, and he led the SEC in interceptions this season with five, while leading Texas in passes broken up (nine). He added 47 total tackles, a sack and a forced fumble for the nation’s best pass defense that gave up only 143.1 yards per game and 5.1 yards per pass attempt, with just four passing TDs allowed all season. — Wilson

DE, Penn State, junior
2024 stats: 37 solo tackles, 10 sacks, 2 FFs

It’s sometimes hard to stand out on a really good defense. Carter doesn’t have that problem. The junior from Philadelphia ranks first on the Nittany Lions’ defense in tackles for loss (20), sacks (10), pressures (49), run stops (14) and is second in both tackles against the run and tackles against the pass. He’s third nationally in TFLs and fifth in pressures, too. He’s a do-everything star for a do-everything defense. — Connelly

OL, Texas, junior
2024 stats: gave up only 1 pressure

The 6-4, 320-pound junior won the Outland Trophy and started 39 straight games at left tackle. He helped three Texas running backs record 100-yard games this season, and he was the centerpiece for an offense averaging 6.2 yards per play, 164.4 rushing yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry with 21 TDs, while also ranking 13th in passing offense (281 YPG). — Wilson

TE, Penn State, senior
2024 stats: 88 receptions, 1,062 yards, 6 TDs

In any season that didn’t include Travis Hunter, odds are Warren would be considered the clear-cut best all-around player in college football. Penn State used him all over the field offensively, lining him up at tight end, halfback, receiver and even quarterback. Warren finished the regular season with 1,062 receiving yards and six TD catches, 191 rushing yards and four TD runs, and, for good measure, 35 passing yards and a touchdown throw. He’s the first non-QB since Kentucky’s Lynn Bowden to rack up 1,200 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns in a season in which he also threw, ran and caught at least one TD. — Hale

RB, Arizona State, senior
2024 stats: 1,568 yards, 19 TDs

Skattebo was a revelation in Arizona State’s monumental turnaround, becoming the first player in Big 12 history to rush for at least 1,500 yards and have more than 500 yards receiving in the same season. He trailed only Ashton Jeanty in yards from scrimmage this season (2,074) and finished with 22 touchdowns, including nine in his past three games. — Bonagura

Cam Skattebo helped propel Arizona State into the CFP. John Rivera/Icon Sportswire

QB, Oregon, senior
2024 stats: 3,558 yards, 28 TDs, 6 INTs

The journeyman of college football found his way to Eugene this season and his decision to return to college could not have gone much better. After a stellar year at Oklahoma, Gabriel seamlessly fit into Oregon’s offense and led the Ducks to an undefeated season while completing 73.2% of his passes (the best mark of his college career) for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns. Beyond the numbers, Gabriel has yet to meet a stage too big for him this season — some of his best games have come against Oregon’s toughest opponents, and his experience across six years of college football is bound to be crucial come playoff time. — Uggetti

RB, Boise State, junior
2024 stats: 2,497 yards, 29 TDs

There’s not much more to be said about Jeanty that hasn’t been said this season and yet, it bears repeating, reemphasizing and reiterating just what kind of year Jeanty has put together. Jeanty carried the ball 344 times this season for 2,497 yards (7.3 yards per carry) and 29 touchdowns. It is arguably the best single season by a running back since Barry Sanders in 1988 when he ran for 2,850 yards. His play has been a crucial part for why Boise State finds itself with a place in the College Football Playoff and a first-round bye. Whichever team the Broncos face in the Fiesta Bowl will have to try its best to do what no one else has been able to. Perhaps Jeanty himself said it best, on a recent podcast appearance: “The whole defense, every single week, is geared toward stopping me, and they still couldn’t.” — Uggetti

Categories
Technology

RollAway’s electrical “Suite on Wheels” is now out there for hire

RollAway’s electric “Suite on Wheels” is now available for rent

While glamping or glamorous electric vehicle camping has been trending for a few years now, you can always count on Silicon Valley startups to take it to the next level.

RollAway, one such startup, is now offering Airbnb-style luxury “stays on wheels,” where you can climb into a fully equipped electric van from GM’s BrightDrop and take the whole experience on the road.

In fact, in 2023, the company began offering advance reservations for its cycling stays in the San Francisco Bay Area. But RollAway has now officially unveiled its first-generation Suite on Wheels offerings, with reservations open for 2025. The company's website says: is currently showing all vans that are already fully booked until October next year: This could be a good signal that a new trend is emerging.

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The main concept presented on RollAway's website is: “Not a hotel. Not an AirBnb… But the ultimate stay on wheels.”

An environmentally friendly and emission-free commitment is also at the forefront of RollAway's marketing. And the company's commitment to sustainable travel starts with the BrightDrop electric van, which promises a range of 270 miles on a full charge.

But that's not all: the “Suite on Wheels” offers large windows and a panoramic roof to enjoy natural views of the surrounding area, while natural light “floods” every corner of the interior. And in camping mode, a spacious rear roll-up door promises a seamless connection between the indoor and outdoor areas.

Inside the recreational vehicle (motorhome) there is a fully equipped kitchen, a living/sleeping area as well as a bathroom and a shower.

The glamorous side includes five-star inflight services and amenities such as a virtual concierge, YETI amenities, Starlink satellite WiFi, farm-to-table breakfast, housekeeping, and spa-class toiletries.

While RollAway is pioneering the rental space, it's not the first company to convert GM's BrightDrop vans into RVs. Grounded, a Detroit-based startup, launched its own version in 2020.

Mercedes-Benz also plans to launch its own next-generation electric motorhomes in 2026.



Categories
Entertainment

Bhad Bhabie's ex Le Vaughn posts intimate image

Whew! Bhad Bhabie's Ex Le Vaughn Shares COZY Photo Of Him And Alabama Barker (EXCLUSIVE)

Chileeeeee! The Shade Room has obtained an exclusive photo from Bhad Bhabie's ex, Le Vaughn, during an intimate encounter with Alabama Barker. Additionally, the photo shows a timestamp of October 17th.

RELATED: Oops! Alabama Barker claps back after Bhad Bhabie accuses her of stealing her husband Le Vaughn

Here's what happened between Alabama Barker, Bhad Bhabie and Le Vaughn

Before we published the intimate photo, Alabama released a series of messages accusing Le Vaughn of assaulting and misleading them. She recalled an altercation during a trip in which she accused Le Vaughn of throwing a bottle at her head, which resulted in “significant injury.” She supplemented her claim with a photo that showed her bloody face and a broken fingernail that was also covered in blood.

Le Vaughn shares intimate photo with Bama and responds to her claims

The Shade Room has reached out to Le Vaughn for comment on these claims. He denied her allegations.

“That’s wrong, that never happened to me.” LeVaughn said.

LeVaughn also posted several messages defending himself on Instagram. One post said:

“You're lying to my children and it's made up. LA knows how you come down. You seek bad online after you just got off it made you do anything to not get sad but playing with someone who makes a living is crazy as hell. And if that is the case sh– You proverb Right, why are you still reporting by November 26th to come to your house? On October 17th you did the same thing. But I lied because I knew what I was. This year for your personal gain is crazy.”

He also claims that Alabama is lying to him to protect their image.

As previously reported, Alabama said she didn't know he and Bhad Bhabie were a couple. Alabama said after she found out, she reached out to Bhad Bhabie and apologized. She said she wanted nothing to do with Le Vaughn.

“I want to be clear: I have no interest in this man and would never deign to be with someone who physically abuses women.”

In Alabama's most recent message to social media, she asked Bhad Bhabie to reach out to her personally so they could discuss the issues surrounding her individual relationships with her ex.

“Danielle, if you would like to address this maturely, please contact me directly,” Alabama said.

RELATED: UPDATE: Alabama Barker accuses Le Vaughn of assault after Bhad Bhabie uncovers alleged text messages between them

What do you think, roommates?

Categories
Science

Zwicky classifies greater than 10,000 exploding stars

Zwicky classifies more than 10,000 exploding stars

Even if you knew nothing about astronomy, you would understand that exploding stars are a powerful and momentous event. How could that not be? Supernovae play a central role in the universe with their energetic, destructive demise.

There are different types of supernovae that explode throughout the universe, with different precursors and different remnants. The Zwicky Transient Facility has discovered 100,000 supernovae and classified 10,000 of them.

The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) is a wide-field astronomical survey named after the prolific Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky. In the early 1930s, Zwicky and his colleague Walter Baade coined the term “supernova” to describe the transition of normal main sequence stars into neutron stars. In the 1940s, Zwicky and his colleague developed the modern supernova classification system. Because of these and many other scientific contributions, the ZTF bears his name. (Zwicky was also a humanist and philosopher.)

The ZTF observes in both the optical and infrared wavelengths and was built to detect transients with the Samuel Oschin Telescope at the Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California. Transients are objects that change quickly in brightness or objects that move. While supernovae (SN) don't move, they definitely change brightness quickly. They can dwarf their entire host galaxy for months.

In 2017, the ZTF launched its Bright Transient Survey (BTS), a project to search for supernovae (SNe). This is by far the largest spectroscopic SNe study ever carried out. The BTS has discovered 100,000 potential SNe and more than 10,000 of these have been confirmed and classified by distance, type, rarity and brightness. This type of astronomical study creates a rich data set that will continue to help researchers in the future.

“There are trillions of stars in the universe and one of them explodes about every second. Reaching 10,000 classifications is amazing, but what we should really celebrate is the incredible progress we have made in our ability to search the universe for transients, or objects that change in the sky, and the science that informs our extensive data will enable,” said Christoffer Fremling, a staff astronomer at Caltech. Fremling leads the ZTF's Bright Transient Survey (BTS).

The effort to catalog supernovae dates back to 2012, when astronomical databases began officially tracking them. Since then, astronomers have discovered nearly 16,000 of them, and the ZTF is responsible for more than 10,000 of these discoveries.

The first documented SNe discovery occurred in 185 AD, when Chinese astronomers recorded the appearance of a “guest star” in the sky that glowed for eight months. In the nearly two millennia since then, we have seen much more. 1987 was a turning point for supernova science when a massive star exploded in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud. Named SN 1987A. It was the first supernova explosion since the invention of the telescope. This was also the first direct detection of neutrinos from a supernova, and this detection is considered by many to be the beginning of neutrino astronomy.

A timeline of important events in the history of supernova astronomy. Click to enlarge. Image source: ZTF/Caltech/NSF

Every night, the ZTF registers hundreds of thousands of events, including everything from small, simple asteroids in our inner solar system to powerful gamma-ray bursts in the distant universe. The ZTF uses two telescopes that serve as a kind of “triage” facility for supernovae and transients. The Samuel Oschin Telescope has a 60-megapixel wide-angle camera that captures the visible sky every two nights. Astronomers detect new transient events by subtracting images of the same patch of sky from subsequent scans.

ZTF team members then examine these images and send the most promising images to the other ZTF telescope, the Spectral Energy Distribution Machine (SEDM). This robotic spectrograph works with the 60-inch Palomar telescope.

“We combine the brightness information from the ZTF camera with the data from the SEDM to correctly identify the origin and type of a transient, a process that astronomers call transient classification,” said Yu-Jing Qin, a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech who leads much of the process daily operation of the BTS survey.

ZTF detections are also sent to other observatories around the world that can study transients using other spectroscopic facilities. About 30% of ZTF transients were confirmed in this way.

ZTF detects so many transients that it is difficult for astronomers to keep up. In recent years, Caltech has made efforts to develop machine learning tools that can examine SEDM spectroscopic data, classify the transients, and send them to the Transient Name Server. In 2023, the BTSBot system was deployed to manage the discovery flow.

“Since BTSbot began operations, it has found about half of the brightest ZTF supernovae before a human,” said Northwestern University graduate student Nabeel Rehemtulla, developer of BTSBot. “For certain types of supernovae, we have automated the entire process and BTSbot has performed exceptionally well in over a hundred cases so far. This is the future of supernova surveys, especially when the Vera Rubin Observatory becomes operational.”

Although every supernova discovery is scientifically valuable, there are some highlights among all of these discoveries.

The ZTF has discovered thousands of Type 1a supernovae. They occur in binary star systems in which one star is a white dwarf. The white dwarf draws gas from its companion and the gas accumulates on the white dwarf. This eventually leads to a supernova explosion. SN 2022qmx is one of those Type 1a supernovae that appeared to be much brighter than it should be. It turned out that an intervening galaxy gravitationally focused the SN's light, making it appear 24 times brighter.

The ZTF is also responsible for detecting the nearest and farthest SNe (with the help of the JWST).

Some highlights from the ZTF's 10,000 supernovae. Click on the image to enlarge it. Photo credit: ZTF/Caltech/NSF

“When we started this project, we didn’t know how many astronomers would follow up on our discoveries,” said Caltech’s Fremling. “Seeing that there are so many is a testament to why we built ZTF: to survey the entire sky for changing objects and share that data with astronomers around the world as quickly as possible.” That is the purpose of the Transient Name Server (TNS).”

In the TNS, the global astronomical community announces the detection and classification of transients to avoid duplication of work. Since 2016, the TNS has processed over 150,000 reported transients and over 15,000 reported supernovae.

“Everything is public in the hope that the community comes together and makes the most of it,” Fremling said. “That way we don’t have, say, ten telescopes around the world doing the same thing and wasting time.”

The ZTF will soon have a powerful partner in time domain astronomy. The Vera Rubin Observatory (VRO) is expected to see its first light in the next few months and then begin its 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). The LSST also detects transients, but is far more sensitive than the ZTF. It is expected to detect millions of supernovae, and tackling all of these discoveries will require a machine learning tool similar to BTSbot.

“The machine learning and AI tools we have developed for the ZTF will be crucial when the Vera Rubin Observatory becomes operational,” said Daniel Perley, an astronomer at Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom Kingdom, who developed the search and discovery procedures for the BTS. “We have already planned to work closely with Rubin to transfer our machine learning knowledge and technology,” Perley added.

Astronomical surveys like those conducted by ZTF and VRO provide fundamental data that researchers will use for years to come. It is impossible to know how it will be used in each case or what discoveries it will lead to. Even better, ZTF and VRO overlap.

This will be a very important and exciting time in time-domain astronomy, according to Caltech astronomy professor Mansi Kasliwal, who will lead the ZTF for the next two years.

“The 2025 and 2026 period in which ZTF and Vera Rubin can both work together is fantastic news for time domain astronomers,” Kasliwal said. “By combining data from both observatories, astronomers can directly address the physics of why supernovae explode and discover fast and young transients that are inaccessible to ZTF or Rubin alone. I look forward to the future,” Kasliwal added.

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Categories
Health

Ozempic is going through scrutiny for attainable eye illness

Ozempic can reduce dementia risk and nicotine consumption

A box of Novo Nordisk's Ozempic is seen at a pharmacy in London, Britain, March 8, 2024.

Hollie Adams | Reuters

A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions.

There may be a new, unintended side effect Novo NordiskThe blockbuster diabetes injection Ozempic.

Danish health authorities said Monday they would ask the European Union's medicines regulator to review the results of two Danish studies linking Ozempic to an increased risk of a rare, vision-threatening eye disease in type 2 diabetes patients.

The condition is called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION. It is characterized by loss of vision due to reduced blood flow to the front part of the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain.

The disease is typically painless and most commonly affects people aged 50 and over. NAION is estimated to affect between 2.3 and 10.3 patients per 100,000 people in the United States each year.

The Danish Medicines Agency said it had been closely monitoring NAION over the past six months for a possible side effect of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic. As of December 10, the authority had received 19 reports about the situation in Denmark.

But the total number of NAION cases in Denmark has increased since Ozempic was launched on the Danish market in 2018, said Jakob Grauslund, professor of eye diseases at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), in a press release on Monday. There used to be about 60 to 70 cases a year in Denmark, but now there are up to 150, added Grauslund, who helped conduct one of the studies.

This is the latest potential concern surrounding popular GLP-1 derivatives like Ozempic, which mimic gut hormones to regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite. Demand for this class of drugs has soared despite high prices and a handful of unpleasant side effects, most commonly occurring in the gastrointestinal tract, such as nausea and vomiting.

In a statement on Monday, Novo Nordisk said that after a “thorough evaluation of the studies” and an internal safety assessment, the Danish drugmaker “is of the opinion that the benefit-risk profile of semaglutide remains unchanged.” The company added that safety Patients have top priority.

The studies, conducted independently by SDU researchers and other institutions, both found that diabetes patients who took Ozempic were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with the condition as those who took another diabetes drug .

The first Danish study was based on data from more than 400,000 diabetes patients, a quarter of whom were treated with Ozempic and the rest with other diabetes medications. The second study included data from more than 44,000 Danish diabetes patients who received Ozempic between 2018 and 2024 and nearly 17,000 Norwegian patients who took the drug between 2018 and 2022.

The studies were published on medRxiv, a website that publishes studies before they have been reviewed by outside scientists. Both appear to confirm a connection first suggested in a Harvard University study earlier this year.

Still, the authors of the first SDU study said the absolute risk of disease in semaglutide users was low. They added that assuming the risk remains constant over time, the results suggest that a diabetes patient taking Ozempic for 20 years would have a 0.3 to 0.5% chance of developing NAION get sick.

“Although our results do not exclude the possibility of an increased risk of NAION with the use of semaglutide for obesity, the small number of events observed suggests that any potential risk is likely to be of limited absolute magnitude,” the authors of the first study said.

They added that additional, differently designed analyzes are needed to further investigate whether Wegovy users who take semaglutide for obesity also have an increased risk of the disease.

Currently, analysts are less concerned about NAION's risk and its potential to reduce Ozempic prescriptions.

“Unless it is determined that semaglutide is the only GLP-1 receptor that poses this risk [is] “We are unlikely to be impacted,” TD Cowen analyst Michael Nedelcovych said in a research note on Monday.

Feel free to send tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at annikakim.constantino@nbcuni.com.

The Latest in Health Technology: Nearly 80% of doctors who use telemedicine do so weekly, a study shows

If doctors have their way, telemedicine is here to stay. This is according to a new report from Doximity, which found that 83% of physicians want telemedicine to remain “an ongoing part of their clinical practice.”

Doximity operates a digital platform for medical professionals that is likened to a LinkedIn for doctors. But users can do more than just network and read news on Doximity, as the company also offers telehealth tools like voice and video calling.

With the company having some skin in the game, Doximity released a report on Tuesday outlining the state of telemedicine in the U.S. and its role in healthcare delivery. In August, 1,171 telemedicine users among doctors and 131 telemedicine users among nurses were surveyed.

More than 77% of physicians surveyed said they use telemedicine weekly, and 35% said they have integrated the technology into their daily clinical practice. Nearly 90% of nurses reported using telehealth weekly and 52% do so daily.

“The strong physician support of telemedicine underscores its increasing role in modern healthcare and has the potential to transform the way healthcare is delivered in the coming years,” Doximity said.

Additionally, about two-thirds of physicians said telemedicine in their practices had led to “improved patient outcomes,” particularly among neurologists, endocrinologists and rheumatologists. Doximity found that endocrinologists, urologists, gastroenterologists, rheumatologists and neurologists were the most likely to use the technology.

The most common use of telemedicine in clinical practice is follow-up visits, as 84% ​​of physicians reported using the technology to conduct these appointments. Next, 60% of physicians said they use telemedicine for medication management, 57% said they use it to discuss lab reports or test results with patients, and 52% said they use it to keep patients informed to help manage chronic illnesses.

Half of physicians surveyed said telemedicine had improved patient adherence to treatment plans, compared to 37% last year.

Nearly a third of doctors said the technology helped them see more patients per day, and two-thirds said it helped them treat their patients better.

Read Doximity’s full report here.

Feel free to send tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Ashley at ashley.caroot@nbcuni.com.

Categories
Science

Biden's power-mad EPA boasts of its first “local weather change arrest” – is it okay with that?

Biden's power-mad EPA boasts of its first "climate change arrest" - is it okay with that?

Of legal insurrection

The Californian was arrested for smuggling air conditioning gases into a hot-weather state.

Posted by Leslie Eastman

The Biden Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report this week on the prosecution of a Californian for “smuggling greenhouse gases” across the border from Mexico and selling them online.

The agency announced it was its first “climate change arrest.”

Michael Hart, 58, was arrested in March and pleaded guilty in September to charges related to the transportation of refrigerants into the United States that were sold on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp and other online vendors between June and December 2022.

Biden's EPA noted in its report the crackdown on Hart, the first person charged with climate change-related smuggling of refrigerants – namely hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCs) – without the agency's permit.

When U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath prosecuted the San Diego resident earlier this year, she vowed that “it won't be the last” case of its kind.

“We are using every means possible to protect our planet from the damage caused by toxic pollutants, including filing criminal charges,” said the United States Attorney for the Southern District of California.

As a reminder, chlorofluorocarbons are important for refrigeration and air conditioning systems. They were originally produced as a replacement for the “ozone-depleting” chlorofluorocarbons.

The compounds have been added to the long list of evil “greenhouse gases” as part of the pseudoscientific climate cultists.

As already mentioned, HCFC is an abbreviation for chlorofluorocarbon. These gases consist of chlorine, carbon, fluorine and hydrogen. It is a type of gas that can be classified as a transition gas because it is used as a replacement for CFCs as part of the plan to reduce the emission of ozone-depleting gases. HCFCs are gases used in the production of other chemicals.

Despite their lower ozone-depleting potential than CFCs, they have a high global warming potential. These are gases that should be gradually phased out of circulation. Their use is decreasing, particularly in developed countries, in line with the Montreal Protocol. This protocol aims to reduce baseline to 90%.

The report also highlighted a long list of penalties and fines levied against Americans and their companies.

In addition, the EPA reported that it imposed $1.7 billion in administrative and judicial penalties, the highest since 2017.

The agency's environmental enforcement efforts also closed 1,851 civil cases, indicted 121 defendants and awarded more than £225 million in “pollution reductions” in “overburdened communities,” the report said. As of the end of 2024, there are approximately 480 criminal investigations into environmental programs pending.

The results reflect a 3.4% increase in civil cases and a 17.6% increase in criminal charges compared to 2023, The Associated Press reported.

In the fiscal year 2024 report, EPA also found that collaborative efforts to “implement EPA's national priorities” resulted in a “12 percent increase in criminal leads opened as a result of recommendations from EPA headquarters and regional offices.” “.

If any member of the Biden administration could correctly read the mood of Americans, this entire report would have been lost during the Christmas news lull.

But then again, it seems that no one in this government understands the nation's citizens. Therefore, we will enjoy a second scoop from President Donald Trump.

It seems that the Biden EPA wants to create the political environment above all else. According to Hot Air's David Strom, Biden will divert even more money to climate cultists on his way out.

Biden says we should expect more climate finance from him before he leaves office. I guess there are more beds to be made and not enough time to get everything done, so he has to hurry.

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Be careful, Spot, this robotic canine from Switzerland can do parkour

Watch out, Spot, this robot dog from Switzerland can do parkour

Boston Dynamics' robot dog Spot has become something of an internet sensation, no doubt thanks to its (perhaps disturbing) killer Dance moves or demonstrations of super strength.

But Spot is far from the only Robodog on the block. One of its competitors is ANYmal, an autonomous quadruped that is impressively good at everything from parkour to Climbing ladders.

Aside from doing tricks, ANYmal also has a real job. It carries out routine inspections in some of the harshest places on earth. Think old Nuclear power plantsabandoned mines and offshore oil platforms.

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Cameras, sensors and gas detectors act as the Robodog's eyes and nose – detecting obstacles and potential safety risks and even detecting gas leaks. It uses its AI “brain” to plan safe routes and knows where it has been.

ANYmal is so good at what it does that some of the world's largest industrial companies – including BP, Equinor and Petrobas – have adopted it into their workforce.

The human master of ANYmal is ANYbotics, a company that emerged from ETH Zurich in 2016. The startup just raised $60 million to build more inspection robots and make them smarter.

There are currently almost 200 ANYmals in use on construction sites around the world. The company has been since last year reported with pre-orders exceeding $150 million.

“This additional funding will enable us to scale globally, enhance our AI-driven capabilities and continue to deliver unmatched value to our customers across all industries,” said Dr. Péter Fankhauser, co-founder and CEO of the company.

ANYbotics recently opened an office in Silicon Valley to enter the American market. This will put the company in closer competition with Spot, which also performs a majority of industrial inspections.

The company said it is investing in software and hardware development, including new, integrated GPUs designed to accelerate ANYmal in processing information, detecting anomalies and generally improving its work. ANYbotics trains its robot with AI computing from Nvidia.

This latest funding brings ANYbotics' total raised to over $130 million. The round was led by Qualcomm Ventures and Supernova Invest, with participation from TDK Ventures and other new investors.